Muscle Shoals Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Muscle Shoals, Alabama 35660
Thursday, January 21, 1982 23:56 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING THE APPROACH THE PILOT STATED THAT HE COULD NOT EXTEND THE LANDING GEAR. AT SOME POINT DURING THE APPROACH THE AIRCRAFT BROKE OUT INTO VFR CONDITIONS. THE PILOT STATED HE HAD THE AIRPORT IN SIGHT WHEN THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A 160,000 VOLT POWER LINE. DURING THE CRASH SEQUENCE THE LEFT MAIN GEAR WAS BROKEN OFF THEREBY MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SUBSTANTIATE ANY PRIOR MALFUNCTION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/21/1982
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 2356
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City MUSCLE SHOALS
Event State ALABAMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 35660
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport MUSCLE SHOALS
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MSL
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 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 400
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) 1
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 53
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 60
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) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 3
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 28
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 Oct 31 2002 4:04PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\ZUZL
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N31937
NTSB Number ATL82FKJ11
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-32
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-32
Aircraft Serial Number 32R-7887016
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 960
Airframe Hours 960
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DYNAMIC SECURITY INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO BOX 451
Aircraft Owner City TUSCUMBIA
Aircraft Owner State AL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 35674
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name JOHN C. RIDDLE
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 301 E. 6TH STREET
Operator City TUSCUMBIA
Operator State AL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 35674
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 Unknown
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code MSL
Departure City BERMINGHAM
Departure State AL
Departure Country
Departure Time 2315
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code BHM
Destination City MUSCLE SHOALS
Destination State AL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
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 29
Runway Length 6693
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --