- Date
- October 23, 1985, 16:15 local (21:15 UTC)
- Place
- Hamilton, AL
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N8132LPiper PA-34-220T
- Weather
- Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19851023052959A
- Case key
- 6903
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
At 1450 CDT, while the plt was cruising at 11,000', ARTCC broadcast info concerning SIGMET 17C, warning plts of thunder-storms with tops to FL 450. At 1613, radar data showed the acft at 11,300'. When asked about his alt, the plt replied he was in a cell & would be returning to his alt of 11,000'. He did not request assistance. Shortly after that, radar data showed the acft had lost 1000', then the display went into a coast track. Later, the wreckage was fnd scattered over an area aprx 1 mi long & 1/4 mi wide. The wings & stabilators had separated during an in-flt breakup. There was evidence the wings had failed from positive overloads. No pre-acdnt part failure or malfunction was fnd. The plt's body was fnd at 0737 CDT on 10/24/85. A toxicology check showed an alcohol level of 0.031%, but the amount of alcohol due to putrefaction was not verified. A wx summary showed the acft was in the vicinity of a very strong wx echo with moderate to severe turbulence & up/downdrafts in the thunderstorm below 20,000'.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8132L
- Reported as
- Piper PA-34-220T
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 34-8233094
- Airframe hours
- 1,208
- Engine
- Continental TSIO-360-KB, 220 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Bertrand J. Marlier, Jr
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- 5DF · Springfield, MO
- Destination
- Dothan, AL
- Flight plan
- IFR
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 47
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 770 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Day
- Visibility
- 5 statute miles
- Temperature
- -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.