Rutherfordton Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Rutherfordton, North Carolina 28139
Friday, December 25, 1987 17:55 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT WAS CLEARED FOR THE ADF APPROACH. THE AIRCRAFT WAS LAST OBSERVED ON RADAR ABOUT ONE MILE INSIDE THE RBN. THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOCATED ON DECEMBER 27 ABOUT 4 NM NE OF THE AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE TREES AT ABOUT THE 2270-FOOT LEVEL OF CARSON MT. THE FIELD ELEVATION AT THE AIRPORT IS 1078. THE MDA FOR THE ADF APPROACH IS 1540 FEET . THE MISSED APPROACH PROCEDURES REQUIRE THAT THE PILOT TURN LEFT, CLIMB TO 3000 FEET, RETURN TO THE RBN AND HOLD. IN PERFORMING THE MISSED APPROACH THE PLT FAILED TO CLIMB TO AND MAINTAIN 3000 FEET AS INSTRUCTED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/25/1987
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1755
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City RUTHERFORDTON
Event State NORTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 28139
Event Date Year 1987
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport RUTHERFORDTON
Event Location Nearest Airport ID RFE
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 7
Degrees magnetic from airport 65
Airport Elevation 1078
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID GSP
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 100
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Obscured
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 10
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Light
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 4
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2097
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 26 1987 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1422
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 35439
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 3:03PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2869C
NTSB Number ATL88FA068
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28RT-201
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28RT-20
Aircraft Serial Number 28R-7918183
Certified Max Gross Weight 2750
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 19 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 60
Airframe Hours 3907
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SOUTHEAST AIRMOTIVE INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address BOX 27027 AIRPORT BRANCH
Aircraft Owner City CHARLOTTE
Aircraft Owner State NC
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 28219
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City LOUISBURG
Departure State NC
Departure Country
Departure Time 1615
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City RUTHERFORDTON
Destination State NC
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 36
Runway Length 4300
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --