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February 9, 1984 · Piper PA-32RT-300T PA-32RT-30 · N22457

Bluefield, WV

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
February 9, 1984
Injury Outcomes
6 injuries (4 fatalities, 2 serious injuries)
Location
Bluefield, WV
Aircraft
Piper PA-32RT-300T PA-32RT-30
Tail Number
N22457
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
ATL84FA093

THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT BEGAN HIS TAKEOFF DURING THE HOURS OF DARKNESS, BUT IN VMC WX. HE STATED THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL AT ABOUT 65 TO 75 KTS JUST PRIOR TO ROTATION, THE LANDING LIGHT EXTINGUISHED. PLT STATED THAT 2 TO 3 SECONDS LATER, HE ROTATED & DUE TO THE LONG NOSE OF THE ACFT, HE LOST SIGHT OF THE RWY LIGHTS. HE CHECKED THE INSTRUMENTS TO KEEP THE ACFT IN A PROPER CLIMB, BUT SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE LEFT WING HIT THE TOP OF A TALL TREE. THE PLT'S FATHER SAID HE OBSERVED THE ACFT ENTERING A LEFT TURN AFTER LIFT-OFF, THEN HE LOST SIGHT OF THE PLANE. THE ONLY SURVIVING PASSENGER SAID THE ENG SOUND REMAINED CONSTANT, BUT THE ACFT VEERED LEFT AFTER LIFT-OFF. MOMENTS LATER, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES, CRASHED & BURNED. INITIAL IMPACT OCCURRED ON A HEADING OF 030 DEG, ABOUT 500 FT LEFT OF THE RWY. NO PREIMPACT/PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. THE PLT HAD BEEN TREATED FOR GLAUCOMA & HAD BEEN DENIED A 3RD CLASS MEDICAL CERTIFICATE ON 1/31/84, AWAITING AN EYE EVALUATION. ARPT ELEV 2857 FT; CRASH SITE ELEV APRX 2400 FT

Full Narrative

THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT BEGAN HIS TAKEOFF DURING THE HOURS OF DARKNESS, BUT IN VMC WX. HE STATED THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL AT ABOUT 65 TO 75 KTS JUST PRIOR TO ROTATION, THE LANDING LIGHT EXTINGUISHED. PLT STATED THAT 2 TO 3 SECONDS LATER, HE ROTATED & DUE TO THE LONG NOSE OF THE ACFT, HE LOST SIGHT OF THE RWY LIGHTS. HE CHECKED THE INSTRUMENTS TO KEEP THE ACFT IN A PROPER CLIMB, BUT SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE LEFT WING HIT THE TOP OF A TALL TREE. THE PLT'S FATHER SAID HE OBSERVED THE ACFT ENTERING A LEFT TURN AFTER LIFT-OFF, THEN HE LOST SIGHT OF THE PLANE. THE ONLY SURVIVING PASSENGER SAID THE ENG SOUND REMAINED CONSTANT, BUT THE ACFT VEERED LEFT AFTER LIFT-OFF. MOMENTS LATER, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES, CRASHED & BURNED. INITIAL IMPACT OCCURRED ON A HEADING OF 030 DEG, ABOUT 500 FT LEFT OF THE RWY. NO PREIMPACT/PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. THE PLT HAD BEEN TREATED FOR GLAUCOMA & HAD BEEN DENIED A 3RD CLASS MEDICAL CERTIFICATE ON 1/31/84, AWAITING AN EYE EVALUATION. ARPT ELEV 2857 FT; CRASH SITE ELEV APRX 2400 FT

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time06:04 EST
Nearest AirportMercer County (5nm NNE)
Runway5
Runway Length4743 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionGrd

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-32RT-300T PA-32RT-30
Tail NumberN22457
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · TIO-540-S1AD · Reciprocating · 300
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary6 injuries (4 fatalities, 2 serious injuries)
Fatal4
Serious2
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total6
Crew 1Age 29 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
Wind250° @ 4 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point36 C / 1 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time10:55
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data