Piper PA-28RT-201T accident near Spring Lake, North Carolina, October 16, 1991
On October 16, 1991 at about 2:14 pm local time, a Piper PA-28RT-201T, registered N83027, was destroyed in an accident near Spring Lake, North Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE INADVERTENT FLIGHT FROM VISUAL FLIGHT RULES FLIGHT CONDITIONS INTO INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES FLIGHT CONDITIONS BY THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT, AND HIS SUBSEQUENT FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 16, 1991 · about 2:14 pm local time
- Place
- Spring Lake, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28RT-201T PA-28RT-20 · all PA-28RT-201Ts on the register
- Registration
- N83027 · no longer on the register · serial 28R-8131036
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT REPORTED TO APPROACH CONTROL THAT HE WAS IN THE CLOUDS, AND MAKING A 180 DEGREE TURN. A PILOT WITNESS STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT EXITED THE BASE OF THE CLOUD LAYER IN A 45 DEGREE NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE, AND IN A 20 DEGREE LEFT BANK. THE WITNESS ESTIMATED THE SPEED OF THE AIRCRAFT TO BE APPROXIMATELY 250 KNOTS. THE PILOT'S OPERATING HANDBOOK FOR THE AIRCRAFT LISTS THE MAXIMUM MANEUVERING SPEED AT 121 KNOTS. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK HIGH POWER LINES AND CRASHED IN A WOODED AREA. THE LEFT AND RIGHT WINGS OF THE AIRCRAFT WERE FOUND BENEATH THE POWER LINES, AND DID NOT SHOW ANY INDICATION OF HAVING STRUCK THE POWER LINES. THE SPAR FRACTURES IN THE WINGS WERE IN AN UPWARD OR POSITIVE DIRECTION. A LARGE PIECE OF THE 1 1/4 INCH DIAMETER POWER CABLE WAS FOUND WRAPPED AROUND THE PROPELLER HUB AND PROPELLER.
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: 926 hours in all; 796 in this make and model; 838 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,150 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 8, 1990; 31 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO=360-FB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AGC Pittsburgh PA at 2:14 pm
- Destination: CRE Myrtle Beach SC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 10 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,500 ft; scat at 900 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:45 pm from FBG, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.