Accident Piper PA-32-260 N38540,
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ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 39760
 
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Date:Sunday 28 February 1982
Time:14:45
Type:Silhouette image of generic PA32 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Piper PA-32-260
Owner/operator:Causey Aviation Services Inc
Registration: N38540
MSN: 32-7700020
Total airframe hrs:2193 hours
Engine model:LYCOMING O-540-E4B5
Fatalities:Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 4
Aircraft damage: Destroyed
Category:Accident
Location:Bradley, SC -   United States of America
Phase: Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.)
Nature:Private
Departure airport:Kissimmee, FL
Destination airport:Liberty, NC
Investigating agency: NTSB
Confidence Rating: Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Narrative:
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. CAUSE:

Sources:

NTSB: https://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20020917X01731

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
24-Oct-2008 10:30 ASN archive Added
21-Dec-2016 19:23 ASN Update Bot Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency]

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