Rutherford County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bostic, North Carolina 28018
Monday, April 5, 1982 20:00 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE ABOUT 5 MI EAST OF THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. WHEN THE AIRPORT OPERATOR WENT HOME AT ABOUT 1830 EST, HE NOTED THAT A 350 FT MOUNTAIN PEAK NEAR HIS HOME WAS OBSCURED BY CLOUDS. AT ABOUT THAT SAME TIME, HE ESTIMATED THAT THE VISIBILITY WAS 1/8 TO 1/4 MI WITH LIGHT RAIN AND DRIZZLE. AT ABOUT 2000 EST, WITNESSES HEARD AN AIRCRAFT IN THE VICINITY OF THE CRASH SITE. THE SOUND OF THE ENGINE WAS DESCRIBED AS INCREASING AND DECREASING ALTERNATELY, THEN IT CEASED ABRUPTLY WITH THE SOUND OF AN IMPACT. THE PILOT'S WIFE, WHO WAS A CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR, SAID THAT HIS HABIT WAS TO USE THE 090 DEG RADIAL OF THE SUGARLOAF MOUNTAIN VORTAC TO FLY OVER THE AIRPORT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/5/1982
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 2000
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City BOSTIC
Event State NORTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 28018
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 RUTHERFORD COUNTY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 57A
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 Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 300
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
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 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2452
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 Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9610J
NTSB Number ATL82FA093
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-28-180
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-180
Aircraft Serial Number 28-3760
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
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 4
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 131
Airframe Hours 2912
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROBERT ALDEN JONES
Aircraft Owner Street Address 122 NORTH WOODLAND AVE.
Aircraft Owner City FOREST CITY
Aircraft Owner State NC
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 28043
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ROBERT ALDEN JONES
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 122 NORTH WOODLAND AVE.
Operator City FOREST CITY
Operator State NC
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 28043
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code RDU
Departure City RALEIGH
Departure State NC
Departure Country
Departure Time 1814
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 57A
Destination City RUTHERFORDTON
Destination State NC
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
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 --