Piper PA-28-181 accident near Rutherfordton, North Carolina, July 28, 1983
On July 28, 1983 at about 4:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N2135F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rutherfordton, North Carolina (Rutherford-County airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 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
- July 28, 1983 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- Rutherfordton, North Carolina · Rutherford-County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N2135F · registry record · serial 287990188
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE PLT NOTED THAT THE RIGHT BRAKE WAS INEFFECTIVE. SHE REQUESTED THAT THE PLT IN THE COPILOT'S SEAT ATTEMPT TO REGAIN CONTROL, BUT THE COPILOT CONFIRMED THE SAME PROBLEM WHILE USING HER BRAKES. SINCE THE RWY WAS RELATIVELY SHORT, THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS HIGH & THE ACFT HAD A FULL LOAD OF PASSENGER'S, THE AIRCREW DECIDED NOT TO ATTEMPT A GO-AROUND. THE LAST PART OF THE RWY SLOPED DOWNHILL, MAKING THE ACFT MORE DIFFICULT TO STOP. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT WENT OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY, TRAVELED DOWN A SLOPE & WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. AN EXAM REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT MAIN BRAKE LININGS (CLEVELAND PN 6630) WERE WORN PAST THE RETAINING RIVETS & INTO THE METAL CALIPER. THE EDGE OF THE O-RING PISTON SEAL PROTRUDED PAST THE CYLINDER LIP & WAS BROKEN. ALSO, NO FLUID WAS REMAINING IN THE CYLINDER. THE ACFT HAD BEEN FLOWN APRX 129 HRS SINCE NEW BRAKE LININGS WERE INSTALLED.
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: 216 hours in all; 156 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 121 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 728 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 16, 1982; 128 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 57A Rutherfordton NC at 3:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 4,400 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from HKY, 33 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.