Piper PA-31 accident near Clemson, South Carolina, April 15, 1982
On April 15, 1982 at about 4:35 pm local time, a Piper PA-31, registered N7570L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Clemson, South Carolina (Clemson-Oconee County airport). It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 7 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 15, 1982 · about 4:35 pm local time
- Place
- Clemson, South Carolina · Clemson-Oconee County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 7 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31 · all PA-31s on the register
- Registration
- N7570L · no longer on the register · serial 31 7300964
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION THE PILOT NOTICED THE HYDRAULICALLY OPERATED INBOARD MAIN LANDING GEAR DOORS WERE OPEN. ALTHOUGH REALIZING THAT THEY SHOULD BE CLOSED WHEN THE LANDING GEAR ARE FULLY EXTENDED, HE PUMPED THE DOORS UP AND TAXIED FOR TAKEOFF. SHORTLY AFTER HE RECEIVED A CALL ON UNICOM THAT THE GEAR DOORS WERE DOWN. HE TAXIED INTO POSITION ON THR RUNWAY, WHERE THE LEFT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED. THE PILOT HAD TAPED THE UNSAFE-GEAR LIGHTS IN THE COCKPIT FOR NIGHT OPERATION.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 16,400 hours in all; 1,375 in this make and model; 85 in the last 90 days; 9,999 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,182 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,500 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-J2BD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Clemson University Athletic De
The flight
- Departed from: CEU Clemson SC at 11:35 am
- Destination: RWI Rocky Mount NC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 25, 3,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 149°F (65°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 6 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.