Asheville Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fletcher, North Carolina 28734
Tuesady, March 20, 1984 22:05 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING TAKEOFF THE LEFT ENG LOST POWER SHORTLY AFTER THE LANDING GEAR WAS RETRACTED. THE PLT STATED THAT HE FELT THE LOSS OF POWER AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME THAT HE TURNED OFF THE LANDING LIGHTS. WITH THE LEFT ENG MANIFOLD PRESSURE GAUGE READING 25 INCHES HG, THE PLT BELIEVED HE WAS RECEIVING SOME POWER FROM THAT ENG & DID NOT FEATHER THAT PROP. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CRASHED IN TREES AFTER IT TURNED TO A HEADING OF ABOUT 035 DEG. THE AREA SURROUNDING THE AIRPORT IS WOODED WITH RISING HILLS. AN INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED THAT THE ACFT WAS LOADED AT OR ABOVE ITS MAX GROSS WEIGHT LIMIT, & THAT THE CG WAS AFT OF THE REAR LIMIT. AN EXAM OF THE COCKPIT REVEALED THAT THE LEFT ENG MAG SWITCHES, LOCATED IMMEDIATELY ABOVE THE LANDING LIGHT SWITCHES, WERE IN THE 'OFF' POSITION & THAT THE LANDING LIGHT SWITCHES WERE IN THE 'ON' POSITION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/20/1984
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 2205
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City FLETCHER
Event State NORTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 28734
Event Date Year 1984
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport ASHEVILLE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID AVL
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 2
Degrees magnetic from airport 70
Airport Elevation 2165
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2207 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 100
Weather Observation Facility ID AVL
Elevation of weather observation facility 2165
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 5
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 3900
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 10
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 10
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 160
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 2600
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
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 1
Injury Total Minor 5
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 6
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 861
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 24578
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8300T
NTSB Number ATL84FA126
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-34-200T
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-34-200T
Aircraft Serial Number 2165
Certified Max Gross Weight 4570
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 6
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Feb 16 1984 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 177
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name A. B. C. LEASING, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2807 SAMDSET
Aircraft Owner City ROYAL OAK
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 48073
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name FLIGHT UNLIMITED, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 64104
Operator City FAYETTEVILLE
Operator State NC
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 28306
Operator Code 09
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code AVL
Departure City ARDEN
Departure State NC
Departure Country
Departure Time 2202
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code RDU
Destination City RALEIGH
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 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 16
Runway Length 8001
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --