Clemson-Oconee County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Clemson, South Carolina 29631
Thursday, April 15, 1982 11:35 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING THE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION THE PILOT NOTICED THE HYDRAULICALLY OPERATED INBOARD MAIN LANDING GEAR DOORS WERE OPEN. ALTHOUGH REALIZING THAT THEY SHOULD BE CLOSED WHEN THE LANDING GEAR ARE FULLY EXTENDED, HE PUMPED THE DOORS UP AND TAXIED FOR TAKEOFF. SHORTLY AFTER HE RECEIVED A CALL ON UNICOM THAT THE GEAR DOORS WERE DOWN. HE TAXIED INTO POSITION ON THR RUNWAY, WHERE THE LEFT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED. THE PILOT HAD TAPED THE UNSAFE-GEAR LIGHTS IN THE COCKPIT FOR NIGHT OPERATION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/15/1982
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1135
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City CLEMSON
Event State SOUTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 29631
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport CLEMSON-OCONEE COUNTY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CEU
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 4000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 65
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 70
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 7
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 438
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7570L
NTSB Number ATL82DA102
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-31
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-31
Aircraft Serial Number 31 7300964
Certified Max Gross Weight 6500
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 7
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 2
Airframe Hours 2182
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CLEMSON UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC DE
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 31
Aircraft Owner City CLEMSON
Aircraft Owner State SC
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 29631
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name CLEMSON UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC DE
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 31
Operator City CLEMSON
Operator State SC
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 29631
Operator Code
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) Executive/Corporate
Second Pilot on Board Unknown
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code CEU
Departure City CLEMSON
Departure State SC
Departure Country
Departure Time 1135
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code RWI
Destination City ROCKY MOUNT
Destination State NC
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Taxi
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:49PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 25
Runway Length 3000
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --