Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bradley, South Carolina 29819
Sunday, February 28, 1982 14:45 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

BEFORE TAKEOFF, THE PILOT TELEPHONED HIS BROTHER IN NORTH CAROLINA AND ASKED ABOUT THE WEATHER. HE WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS AN OVERCAST. THE PILOT REPLIED THAT HE WOULD "COME ON AND SKIRT THE MOUNTAINS." NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED AND THERE WAS NO FAA RECORD OF A WEATHER BRIEFING. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED ABOUT 130 MILES WEST OF A STRAIGHT LINE BETWEEN THE DEPARTURE POINT AND THE DESTINATION. TWO KNOWN WITNESSES HEARD THE AIRCRAFT BEFORE IT CRASHED. ONE DESCRIBED THE ENGINE SOUND AS INCREASING IN PITCH AND THEN DYING. HE DESCRIBED THE SOUND AS SIMILAR TO A MODEL AIRCRAFT FLYING IN A CIRCLE. THE OTHER WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE STOPPED AND STARTED THREE TIMES. HE ALSO ESTIMATED THE CEILING AS VERY LOW AND THE VISIBILITY AS VERY POOR. AN EXAMINATION OF THE CRASH SITE REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT WING TIP HAD SEPARATED AND HAD COME TO REST AT A DISTANCE FROM THE MAIN WRECKAGE. THE LOWER WING SKIN FAILED IN TENSION AND THE TOP SKIN WAS TORN AND DEFORMED UPWARD. THE PROPELLER HAD SEPARATED AND WAS CURLED & BENT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/28/1982
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1445
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City BRADLEY
Event State SOUTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 29819
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
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 1500
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) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 39
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 40
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
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 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) 1050
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 N38540
NTSB Number ATL82FA066
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-32-260
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-32-260
Aircraft Serial Number 32-7700020
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours 2193
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CAUSEY AVIATION SERVICES INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address ROUTE 1
Aircraft Owner City LIBERTY
Aircraft Owner State NC
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 27198
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name CAUSEY AVIATION SERVICES INC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address ROUTE 1
Operator City LIBERTY
Operator State NC
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 27198
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City KISSIMMEE
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City LIBERTY
Destination State NC
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
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 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --