# NTSB ATL87FA174: Piper PA-28R-200, N900AJ, Asheville, NC, June 19, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 18, 1987, 21:05 local (Jun 19, 1987, 01:05 UTC)
- Place: Asheville, NC
- Coordinates: 35.589462, -82.559059 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5895&lon=-82.5591&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 29, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7303
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL87FA174
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7303/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL87FA174

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - hazardous weather advisory - disregarded, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - aircraft handling - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - uncontrolled
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly

## Analysis

DURING A PERSONAL NIGHT X-COUNTRY VFR FLIGHT OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN THE PLT WAS INFORMED BY ATC THAT VIP LEVEL 3 AND 4 THUNDERSTORMS WERE POSITIONED ACROSS THE INTENDED FLT PATH. THE 128 HOUR NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PRIVATE PLT ACKNOWLEDGED AND CONTINUED THE FLT. SOON AFTERWARDS RADIO AND RADAR CONTACT WERE LOST. THE ACFT EXPERIENCED AN IN-FLIGHT BREAKUP. ALL STRUCTURAL FAILURES HAD OVERSTRESS SIGNATURES TYPICAL OF OVERLOAD. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF PRE-BREAKUP MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE. A METEOROLOGICAL SUMMARY OF THE ACCD SITE INDICATED THAT THE LEADING EDGE OF A WX ECHO OF AT LEAST MOD INTENSITY CONTAINING AT LEAST A MOD RAIN SHOWER WAS LOCATED IN THE VICINITY OF THE ACCD SITE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N900AJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N900AJ-1988-06-20), registration cancelled 1988-06-20, S/N 28R35369 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-200
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28R-35369
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-C1C 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Albert H. Shuster III
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: MEI, MERIDIAN, MS
- Destination: GSO, GREENSBORO, NC

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 128 total, 57 in this make and model, 5 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 40° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: AVL, 5 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 19870618020819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870618020819A), Jun 18, 1987: Piper PA28R200, Asheville, NC, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Flew into thunderstorm activity. Aircraft suffered airframe failure. IFR pilot was not endorsed in complex aircraft

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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