# NTSB ANC83FAA06: Piper PA-28-180, N7346W, Nome, AK, April 24, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: April 24, 1983, 12:07 local (20:07 UTC)
- Place: Nome, AK
- Coordinates: 64.710029, -164.619949 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.7100&lon=-164.6199&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4064
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC83FAA06
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4064/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC83FAA06

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor)

## Analysis

AT 1205 BDT, THE PLT REPORTED DEPARTING RWY 20 ON AN IFR FLT. AT THAT TIME, THE BASES OF THE CLOUDS WERE REPORTED TO BE AT APRX 600 TO 700 FT WITH THE TOPS AT 3500 FT & ANOTHER CLOUD LAYER WAS ABOVE THAT. AT APRX 1207, THE ACFT CRASHED ON THE ARPT BOUNDRY, BESIDE THE WEST END OF RWY 9/27. THE IMPACT OCCURRED ON THE SOUTH BANK OF A SNOW COVERED, FROZEN RIVER. THE MAIN WRECKAGE CAME TO REST ON THE NORTH BANK AFTER TRAVELING APRX 300 FT. TWO WITNESSES HEARD WHAT SOUNDED TO THEM AS AEROBATIC MANEUVERS. ONE WITNESS STATED THAT HE SAW THE ACFT JUST BELOW THE BASE OF THE CLOUDS HEADING NORTH. ACCORDING TO HIM, THE ACFT STARTED A 360 DEG RIGHT TURN, MAKING A STEEP DESCENT DURING THE 1ST HALF OF THE TURN, THEN A STEEP CLIMB DURING THE 2ND HALF. HE REPORTED THAT AT THE COMPLETION OF THE TURN, THE ACFT'S NOSE DROPPED & THE ACFT ENTERED A DESCENT & CRASHED. ANOTHER WITNESS SAW THE PLANE DESCENDING BEFORE ITCRASHED. HE THOUGHT THAT IT HAD JUST COME OUT OF THE CLOUDS. VACUUM PUMP/ATTITUDE INDICATOR EXAMED, NO MALFUNCTION FOUND

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7346W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7346W-1985-11-23), registration cancelled 1985-11-23, S/N 28-1223 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-1223
- Airframe hours: 4746
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A3A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Wilhelm J. Schosal
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 10, 1983, 30 hours before
- Departed: OME, NOME, AK
- Destination: GAL, GALENA, AK
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: OME, Nome, runway 20, 5,576 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 834 total, 500 in this make and model, 672 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 31 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 600 ft overcast
- Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: OME, 75 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19830424015099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830424015099A), Apr 24, 1983: Piper PA28180, Nome, AK, Destroyed. Lost control on entering clouds on climbout. Stalled trying to recover. Dived to ground. No record of 6 month check

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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