# NTSB IAD78FA066: Piper PA-31, N54292, Martinsville, VA, May 19, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: May 19, 1978
- Place: Martinsville, VA · MARTINSVILLE, VA
- Location: 36.6835° N, 79.8636° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Martinsville, VA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6835&lon=-79.8636&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report July 12, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 80041
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD78FA066
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD78FA066

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1315  78/5/19    MARTINSVILLE,VA     PIPER PA-31         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 44, 2149
        TIME - 1610                    N54292              PX-  0  0  0  COMMUTER AIR CARRIER      TOTAL HOURS, 363 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0  AIR TAXI-CARGO S-D        INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - BLUE RIDGE
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MARTINSVILLE,VA             ROANOKE,VA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  TAKEOFF: ABORTED
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - DELAYED ACTION IN ABORTING TAKEOFF
        FACTOR(S)
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: INADEQUATE INSPECTION OF AIRCRAFT (MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL)
           AIRFRAME - FLIGHT CONTROL SURFACES: ELEVATOR ASSEMBLY,ATTACHMENTS
           PERSONNEL - PRODUCTION-DESIGN-PERSONNEL: POOR/INADEQUATE DESIGN
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING ON AIRPORT/SEAPLANE BASE/HELIPT.
                                  SUSPECTED MECHANICAL DISCREPANCY
                                  PITCH CONTROL PROBLEM
        REMARKS- LATE ABORT AFTER RECOGNITION OF CONTROL PROB. ELEV CONT CABLE BINDING AGAINST LIGHTENING HOLE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N54292 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Blue Ridge

## 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 19780519017029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780519017029A), May 19, 1978: Piper PA31T1, Martinsville, VA, Substantial damage. Late abort after recognition of control prob. Elev cont cable bin against lightening hole.

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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