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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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August 23, 1983 · Cessna 414A · N5ER

Marion, NC

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 23, 1983
Injury Outcomes
4 injuries (4 minor injuries)
Location
Marion, NC
Aircraft
Cessna 414A
Tail Number
N5ER
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
ATL83FA337

During the takeoff run, at 85 kts, the acft hit a bump & the plt stated his forward vision was obstructed by water on the windshield. He instinctively pulled back on the controls & become airborne. He lost sight of the right side set of rwy lights & was reportedly flying 'blind.' The acft drifted left into trees & came to rest in shallow water in a backwater area 150 ft north of the departure end of rwy 10. Many of the rwy lights were either not operating or were obstructed. No lights in the last 1000 ft of the rwy were both operating & unobstructed. The NOAA arpt/facility director contains a remark for the arpt 'Runway subject to flooding after very heavy rains.' This remark does not appear in the Jeppesen 'Airport Directory' that the plt was using. After the accident the plt stated he walked through the eastern end of the rwy & found himself 'up to his ankles' in about 3 inches of water.

Full Narrative

DURING THE TAKEOFF RUN, AT 85 KTS, THE ACFT HIT A BUMP & THE PLT STATED HIS FORWARD VISION WAS OBSTRUCTED BY WATER ON THE WINDSHIELD. HE INSTINCTIVELY PULLED BACK ON THE CONTROLS & BECOME AIRBORNE. HE LOST SIGHT OF THE RIGHT SIDE SET OF RWY LIGHTS & WAS REPORTEDLY FLYING 'BLIND.' THE ACFT DRIFTED LEFT INTO TREES & CAME TO REST IN SHALLOW WATER IN A BACKWATER AREA 150 FT NORTH OF THE DEPARTURE END OF RWY 10. MANY OF THE RWY LIGHTS WERE EITHER NOT OPERATING OR WERE OBSTRUCTED. NO LIGHTS IN THE LAST 1000 FT OF THE RWY WERE BOTH OPERATING & UNOBSTRUCTED. THE NOAA ARPT/FACILITY DIRECTOR CONTAINS A REMARK FOR THE ARPT 'RUNWAY SUBJECT TO FLOODING AFTER VERY HEAVY RAINS.' THIS REMARK DOES NOT APPEARIN THE JEPPESEN 'AIRPORT DIRECTORY' THAT THE PLT WAS USING. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE PLT STATED HE WALKED THROUGH THE EASTERN END OF THE RWY & FOUND HIMSELF 'UP TO HIS ANKLES' IN ABOUT 3 INCHES OF WATER.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time22:00 EDT
Nearest AirportShiflet Field (0nm E)
Runway10
Runway Length3340 ft
Runway Width180 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionGrd

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 414A
Tail NumberN5ER
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 135
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · TSIO-520NB · Reciprocating · 310
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary4 injuries (4 minor injuries)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor4
Uninjured0
Total4
Crew 1Age 64 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightBright Night
Wind360° @ 4 kt
Visibility3 sm
CeilingUnknown 2500 ft
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data