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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

July 20, 1983 · Piper PA-31P · N234LC

Lost Creek, WV

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 20, 1983
Injury Outcomes
4 injuries (4 fatalities)
Location
Lost Creek, WV
Aircraft
Piper PA-31P
Tail Number
N234LC
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
ATL83AA285

THE ACFT TOOK OFF WITH 4 OCCUPANTS & AN ESTIMATED 596 LBS OF CARGO ON BOARD. AFTER IT TOOK OFF, THE ATC CONTROLLER NOTED THAT IT WAS CLIMBING SLOWER THAN EXPECTED. AFTER CLIMBING TO ABOUT 4200 FT MSL, THE AIRCREW REPORTED A PROBLEM WITH THE LEFT ENG & SAID THEY DID NOT BELIEVE THEY COULD MAKE IT BACK TO THE DEPARTURE ARPT. THEY EXPRESSED A DESIRE TO CONTINUE TOWARD THE SOUTHWEST. ATC PROCEEDED TO VECTOR THEM TO THE WESTON ARPT, BUT INFORMED THEM THAT IT HAD NO INSTRUMENT APCH. AFTER THE REPORTED ENG MALFUNCTION, ATC PERSONNEL NOTED THAT THE ACFT CONTINUED IN A GRADUAL LEFT TURN. ABOUT 8 MIN AFTER TAKEOFF, RADIO CONTACT WAS LOST. A WITNESS ON THE GROUND SAW THE ACFT COME OVER A HILL WITH THE SOUND OF AN ENG AT HI POWER. AT ABOUT THAT TIME, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A POWER LINE CABLE, THEN CRASHEDINTO 2 TREES, IMPACTED THE GROUND & BURNED. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO SIGNIFICANT PREIMPACT FAILURES. THE ACFTWAS ESTIMATED TO BE APRX 400 LBS OVER ITS MAX CERTIFICATED GROSS WT.

Full Narrative

THE ACFT TOOK OFF WITH 4 OCCUPANTS & AN ESTIMATED 596 LBS OF CARGO ON BOARD. AFTER IT TOOK OFF, THE ATC CONTROLLER NOTED THAT IT WAS CLIMBING SLOWER THAN EXPECTED. AFTER CLIMBING TO ABOUT 4200 FT MSL, THE AIRCREW REPORTED A PROBLEM WITH THE LEFT ENG & SAID THEY DID NOT BELIEVE THEY COULD MAKE IT BACK TO THE DEPARTURE ARPT. THEY EXPRESSED A DESIRE TO CONTINUE TOWARD THE SOUTHWEST. ATC PROCEEDED TO VECTOR THEM TO THE WESTON ARPT, BUT INFORMED THEM THAT IT HAD NO INSTRUMENT APCH. AFTER THE REPORTED ENG MALFUNCTION, ATC PERSONNEL NOTED THAT THE ACFT CONTINUED IN A GRADUAL LEFT TURN. ABOUT 8 MIN AFTER TAKEOFF, RADIO CONTACT WAS LOST. A WITNESS ON THE GROUND SAW THE ACFT COME OVER A HILL WITH THE SOUND OF AN ENG AT HI POWER. AT ABOUT THAT TIME, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A POWER LINE CABLE, THEN CRASHEDINTO 2 TREES, IMPACTED THE GROUND & BURNED. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO SIGNIFICANT PREIMPACT FAILURES. THE ACFTWAS ESTIMATED TO BE APRX 400 LBS OVER ITS MAX CERTIFICATED GROSS WT.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:40 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-31P
Tail NumberN234LC
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · TIGO-541-E1A · Reciprocating · 425
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary4 injuries (4 fatalities)
Fatal4
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total4
Crew 1Age 49 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDaylight
Wind170° @ 8 kt
Ceiling300 ft
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time14:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data