# NTSB ATL82FA004: Piper PA-32, N8398N, Winchester, VA, October 6, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 6, 1981
- Place: Winchester, VA · WINCHESTER, VA
- Location: 39.1739° N, 78.1764° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Winchester, VA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1739&lon=-78.1764&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 23, 1982
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 123106
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL82FA004
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL82FA004

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3363   81/10/6 NR.WINCHESTER,VA      PIPER PA-32         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 52, 338
        TIME - 1925                    N8398N              PX-  1  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 6 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          GRAYSLAKE,IL                WASHINGTON,DC
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXCEEDED DESIGNED STRESS LIMITS OF AIRCRAFT
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH AIRCRAFT
           AIRFRAME - WINGS: SPARS
           AIRFRAME - FLIGHT CONTROL SURFACES: HORIZONTAL STABILIZER, ATTACHMENTS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
           WEATHER - THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    700
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     DRIZZLE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      50
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
        REMARKS- BGN RCVRY BLO CLDS,R OTBD WNG PANEL/HOR STAB SEPD.HI PLT WRKLD-FREQ CHG,NEW ALSTG,DSCNT/HLDG CLNC.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N8398N (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19811006068629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19811006068629A), Oct 6, 1981: Piper PA32R301, Winchester, VA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Flew into area of severe turbulence and thunderstorms. Lost control. Airplane broke up in flight.

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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