# NTSB DCA82AA009: Piper PA-31, N546BA, Ithaca, NY, January 5, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: January 5, 1982, 07:49 local (12:49 UTC)
- Place: Ithaca, NY
- Location: 42.4439° N, 76.5031° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Ithaca, NY, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4439&lon=-76.5031&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 5, 1983
- Report: Board-adopted at Board Meeting
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71159
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA82AA009
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71159/pdf
- Board report AAR8211 (PDF): https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR8211.pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA82AA009

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, approach
  - flt control syst,wing flap control - worn (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, approach
  - flt control syst,wing flap control - inadequate (cause)
  - acft/equip,inadequate handling/perf capabilities, manufacturer (cause)
  - flight control,flap - asymmetrical (cause)
  - aircraft handling - not possible, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - windshear (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS ON A SCHEDULED COMMUTER FLT FROM UTICA, NY TO WASHINGTON, DC WITH A STOP AT ITHACA, NY. THE EN ROUTE PORTION OF THE FLT FROM UTICA TO ITHACA WAS NORMAL. AT 0735 EST, THE ACFT WAS AT 6000 FT MSL WHEN APCH CONTROL INFORMED THE AIRCREW TO EXPECT AN ILS APCH TO RWY 32 AT ITHACA. AT 0739, AN EMERG WAS DECLARED CONCERNING A SPLIT FLAP COND WITH 1 FLAP DWN. DRG THE NEXT 5 MIN, THE CREW RETAINED CONTROL OF THE ACFT WHILE DSCNDG FROM APRX 2500 TO 1900 FT. AT 0744:40, THE CREW RPRTD ON THE LOCALIZER COURSE AT 9 MI FROM THE ARPT, THEN RPRTD MAINTAINING CONTROL WITH FULL RGT AILERON. SHORTLY AFTER RPRTG THE GND IN SIGHT, THE PLANE CRASHED & BURNED IN A WOODED AREA, 6.7 MI FROM THE ARPT. IT DESCENDED THRU THE TREES IN AN 80 TO 90 DEG L BANK, APRX 24 DEG NOSE DWN. FND R FLAP 34 DEG DWN & L FLAP UP. THE INBOARDFEMALE SPLINE COMPONENT OF THE L FLAP FLEX CABLE WAS WORN & THE MALE FITTING WOULD ROTATE WITHIN. CAR 3.339 REQD A MECHANICAL FLAP INTERCONNECT WHEN ACFT CAN NOT BE CONTROLLED W SPLIT FLAPS. MOD LOW ALT TURBC & LOW LVL WND SHEAR ENCTRD

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N546BA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N546BA-1983-04-29), registration cancelled 1983-04-29, S/N 31709 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31-310](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-310) (registry code 7103102) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 31409
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-A2C 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Empire Airlines
- Registered owner: Empire Airlines
- Departed: C, UTICA, NY
- Destination: C, WASHINGTON, DC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: Tompkins County, runway 32, 5,001 × 150 ft

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 3,300 total, 728 in this make and model, 265 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft overcast

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19820105001919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820105001919A), Jan 5, 1982: Piper PA31310, Ithaca, NY, Destroyed. Aircraft crashed during approach for landing. Pilots reported split flap condition turbulence was a factor.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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