Piper PA-28-181 accident near Savannah, Georgia, June 13, 1982
On June 13, 1982 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N80SA, was destroyed in an accident near Savannah, Georgia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- June 13, 1982 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Savannah, Georgia
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N80SA · no longer on the register · serial 28-8090194
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OBTAINED A WEATHER BRIEFING AND FILED A VFR FLIGHT PLAN BEFORE TAKEOFF. HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE WEATHER WAS 6000 FT SCATTERED, 6 MILES VISIBILITY, POSSIBLE STORMS GATHERING AT PALATKA, FL. AFTER TAKEOFF, HE WAS UNABLE TO CONTACT THE FLIGHT SERVICE STATION TO ACTIVATE THE FLIGHT PLAN. WHILE ENROUTE, HE HAD TO DEVIATE TO AVOID WEATHER AND BECAME LOST. HE TRIED TO OBTAIN HELP BY USING HIS RADIO. BUT WAS UNABLE. HE FINALLY LOCATED AN AIRPORT (HUNTER AFB), THE ENGINE LOST POWER FROM FUEL EXHAUSTION BEFORE HE ARRIVED. HE ELECTED TO LAND ON A DIRT ROAD, BUT WAS UNABLE TO CLEAR THE TOPS OF THE TREES. THE PILOT GUIDED THE PLANE BETWEEN TWO TREES AS HE CRASH LANDED.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 96 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 52 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,500 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Shields Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: Cedar Keys FL at 1:52 pm
- Destination: Jacksonville FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 1 |
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.