# NTSB ATL92FA185: Piper PA-28-151, N43313, Samantha, AL, September 23, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 23, 1992, 05:26 local (10:26 UTC)
- Place: Samantha, AL
- Location: 33.4223° N, 87.6053° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Samantha, AL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4223&lon=-87.6053&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 26, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8520
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL92FA185
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8520/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL92FA185

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND PREPARATION, HIS LACK OF EXPEREINCE, WHICH RESULTED IN AN ENCOUNTER WITH INSTRUMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS DURING AN ATTEMPTED VISUAL FLIGHT, AND HIS SUBSEQUENT SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. FACTORS WERE THE DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS, CLOUDS, AND THE PILOT'S GEOGRAPHICAL DISORIENTATION.

## 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)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - became lost/disoriented, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - encountered, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PILOT OBTAINED A WEATHER BRIEFING & FILED A VFR FLIGHT PLAN JUST BEFORE HIS DEPARTURE SHORTLY AFTER MIDNIGHT. CLOUD LAYERS WERE FORECAST ALONG THE ROUTE OF FLIGHT. EN ROUTE HE CONTACTED ATC & SAID HE WAS LOST. HIS CONVERSATION INDICATED THAT HE WAS IN CLOUDS. RADAR INFORMATION DEPICTED THAT THE FLIGHT PATH OF THE AIRPLANE BECAME ERRATIC IN HEADING & ALTITUDE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A STEEP FLIGHT PATH & NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE PILOT HAD OBTAINED HIS PRIVATE CERTIFICATE ABOUT THREE MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. HIS PILOT'S LOG INDICATED THAT HE HAD BEEN RECEIVING INSTRUMENT FLIGHT INSTRUCTION. HE HAD A TOTAL OF 7 SIMULATED INSTRUMENT FLIGHT HOURS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N43313](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N43313-1993-03-03), registration cancelled 1993-03-03, S/N 287415466 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-151
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-151](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-151) (registry code 7102805) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7415466
- Airframe hours: 9856
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E3D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Benson, Paul D.
- Registered owner: Benson, Paul D.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 13, 1992, 50 hours before
- Departed: SUS, ST. LOUIS, MO
- Destination: PFN, PANAMA CITY, FL
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; toxicology performed; flight hours: 118 total, 77 in this make and model, 96 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 20° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,900 ft overcast
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: TCL, 20 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 19920923038539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920923038539A), Sep 23, 1992: Piper PA28151, Samantha, AL, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Continued flight over undercast at night. Entered clouds. Lost control and spiral dived to impact in wooded area.

## Other investigations on N43313 (1)

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.

- [NTSB CHI90LA034](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI90LA034), Nov 25, 1989: Piper PA-28-151 (N43313), Freeport, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY JUDGE THE CLEARANCE BETWEEN HIS AIRPLANE AND A PARKED VEHICLE.

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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