Winston-Salem - Charlotte

On November 15, 1983 at 02:36 AM, Winston-Salem - Charlotte experienced a crash involving Piper PA-31-310 Navajo, operated by Southeast Airmotive, with the event recorded near Charlotte-Douglas North Carolina.

The flight was categorized as cargo and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

1 people were known to be on board, 1 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The aircraft was first radar identified about 18 miles north of the airport and was given radar vectors for a right downwind and base to runway 36R. While on a downwind heading 150°, the pilot was assigned a heading of 270° and was queried if the airport was in sight. The pilot responded '...we got it.' However, radar data shows the aircraft continuing the turn through 270° to about 350°. After about 1/2 mile, the aircraft turned left to 250° descending. The turn continued to a southwest heading approximately aligned with a city street that passes south of the airport on a course of 250°. The altitude decreased with a consistent rate to 900 feet when radar contact was lost. Elevation at the approach end of runway 36R is 724 feet. Wreckage distribution was along a 245° heading. A flight inspection of the runway 36R edge lights at night during VFR conditions indicated the lights were not visible beyond 30° of the runway centerline. The pilot got up at 0730 on 11/14.

Aircraft reference details include registration N6459L, MSN 31-415, year of manufacture 1968.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 35.2107°, -80.9457°.