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NTSB Report
August 24, 1985 · Piper PA-31T · N600CM
Flat Rock, NC
Overview
Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 24, 1985
Injury Outcomes
5 injuries (5 fatalities)
Location
Flat Rock, NC
Aircraft
Piper PA-31T
Tail Number
N600CM
Operator
Hubert Van Pittman
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
ATL85FA256
ACFT HIT NORTHWEST SIDE OF RIDGE IN LEVEL ATTITUDE,CRUISE SPEED,HEADING SOUTHEAST.CONDITIONS WERE DARK NIGHT AND THE CLOUD CEILING WAS ABOUT 40 FEET ABOVE THE RIDGE.PILOT RECEIVED WX BRIEF BEFORE TAKE OFF AND EN ROUTE WHICH REPORTED A CEILING OF 10,000 FEET AT DESTINATION.ACFT WAS FLOWN AT 17,500 FEET EN ROUTE.PIC RADIOED GSP APPROACH CONTROL.SAID HE WAS VFR FOR LANDING,PASSING 6000 FEET.TWO WAY COMM NOT ESTABLISHED BUT DISCRETE TX CODE ASSIGNED. CONTROLLER SAW TX CODE CHANGE NW OF CRASH SITE THEN RADAR TARGET DISAPPEARED AT ACCIDENT SITE.
Full Narrative
ACFT HIT NORTHWEST SIDE OF RIDGE IN LEVEL ATTITUDE,CRUISE SPEED,HEADING SOUTHEAST.CONDITIONS WERE DARK NIGHT AND THE CLOUD CEILING WAS ABOUT 40 FEET ABOVE THE RIDGE.PILOT RECEIVED WX BRIEF BEFORE TAKE OFF AND EN ROUTE WHICH REPORTED A CEILING OF 10,000 FEET AT DESTINATION.ACFT WAS FLOWN AT 17,500 FEET EN ROUTE.PIC RADIOED GSP APPROACH CONTROL.SAID HE WAS VFR FOR LANDING,PASSING 6000 FEET.TWO WAY COMM NOT ESTABLISHED BUT DISCRETE TX CODE ASSIGNED. CONTROLLER SAW TX CODE CHANGE NW OF CRASH SITE THEN RADAR TARGET DISAPPEARED AT ACCIDENT SITE.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time21:55 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionGrd
Aircraft
AircraftPiper PA-31T
Tail NumberN600CM
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorHubert Van Pittman
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsP&W · PT-6A-28 · Turboprop · 715
Seats7
People & Injuries
Injury Summary5 injuries (5 fatalities)
Fatal5
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total5
Crew 1Age 45 · Third Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightBright Night
Wind130° @ 5 kt
Visibility3 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 1500 ft
Temperature / Dew Point63 F / 61 F
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time01:51
Weather SourceWFAC