Piper PA-24-260 TGHUH

Summary

On 6 June 1998 at about 18:00 local time, a Piper PA-24-260 registered TGHUH, operated by Kenneth M. Bleavins, was involved in an accident near Statesville, North Carolina, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 June 1998 at 18:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Statesville, North Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Statesville Municipal (SVH)

Coordinates

35.7799, -80.8803

Aircraft

Piper PA-24-260

Registration

TGHUH

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Kenneth M. Bleavins

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Indian Trail → Marion

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA98FA182

2 people died.

The pilot's attempted flight into adverse weather, resulting in a loss of control in flight. Contributing factors were the pilot's failure to obtain updated weather information, rain, and fog.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot received three weather briefings before takeoff; the flight departed VFR with no flight plan. Witnesses reported hearing a low flying airplane with a sputtering engine, followed by the engine revving up and an impact. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed in the area, with 2 1/2 statue miles visiblity in heavy rain, and fog reported at 1355 at a weather observation station, about 102 degrees magnetic and 4.88 nautical miles from the crash site A search for the overdue airplane was conducted; it was located 3 days after the accident. Examination of the airplane, flight controls, and engine revealed no evidence of pre-impact failure or malfunction. No maintenance logbooks for the airplane nor the pilot's pilot logbook were located. No determination could be made if the pilot was current to fly in instrument meteorological conditions. Copies of maintenance records from the last country of registration indicate that the airplane was last inspected on October 21, 1993. The ELT did not operate due to being in the 'off' position, and battery voltage less than required. The airplane had been operated for an estimated 2 hours 53 minutes since the fuel tanks were filled. There was no record of the pilot obtaining any in-flight advisories.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.