# NTSB ATL88FA010: Piper PA-28-161, N84430, Greenville, SC, October 12, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 12, 1987, 10:26 local (14:26 UTC)
- Place: Greenville, SC
- Coordinates: 34.850173, -82.399971 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8502&lon=-82.4000&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 16, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7561
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL88FA010
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7561/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL88FA010

## 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 - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - drizzle/mist (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - haze/smoke (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - self-induced pressure, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
  - in-flight weather advisories - not obtained, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, maneuvering
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PLTS TRIP HOME HAD BEEN DELAYED ONE DAY DUE TO WX ENRT. HE HAD CALLED THE FSS EARLY FOR A BRIEFING AND HAD BEEN ADVISED THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO TROUBLE FOR A NOON DEPART TIME. HE DEPTD CLEMSON ABOUT 1000 AND ACTIVATED HIS VFR FLT PLAN. HE THEN CONTACTED GSP APCH CONTROL FOR CLEARANCE THROUGH THE GSP AREA. EIGHT MINUTES PRIOR TO THE MISHAP, THE PLT REQ CLEARANCE TO CLB TO 7,500 FT BECAUSE HE WAS GETTING CLOSE TO A CLOUD BANK. CLEARANCE WAS DENIED DUE TO A CESSNA 185 AT 7,500 AND WHICH WAS GOING NE. THE 185 RADIOED GSP APCH THAT HE WAS GOING BACK TO GRIFFIN BECAUSE 'IT DOESN'T LOOK TOO GOOD UP HERE NOW'. HE WAS BETWEEN LAYERS. THE PIPER WAS CLRD TO 7,500. ABOUT ONE MIN AFTER ACKNOWLEDGING THAT HE WAS AT 7,500, GSP APCH RADIOED TO THE PIPER THAT THEY OBSERVED HIM IN A LT TURN AND DESCENDING. 30 SEC LATER THE ELT ACTIVATED. THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED TO COME OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF THE OVC IN PIECES, FOLLOWING AN INFLIGHT BREAKUP.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N84430](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N84430-1991-03-28), registration cancelled 1991-03-28, S/N 288216009 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-8216009
- Airframe hours: 1035
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Gmi, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 15, 1987, 63 hours before
- Departed: CEU, CLEMSON, SC
- Destination: PKB, PARKERSBURG, WV
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: GMU, Greenville Downtown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 215 total, 204 in this make and model, 113 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 50° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: GMU, 2 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 19871012059219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871012059219A), Oct 12, 1987: Piper PA28161, Greenville, SC, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Indicates VFR pilot flew between cloud layers that merged. Lost control and exceeded load limits. Airframe failed.

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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