# NTSB BFO84FA001: Piper PA-28-235, N9014W, Selbyville, DE, July 21, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 21, 1984, 13:45 local (17:45 UTC)
- Place: Selbyville, DE
- Coordinates: 38.470008, -75.169258 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.4700&lon=-75.1693&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11106
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO84FA001
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11106/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO84FA001

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, unknown
  - preflight planning/preparation - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - preflight briefing service - not used, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - vfr flight into imc - performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command
  - weather condition - rain
  - weather condition - clouds
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent
  - level off - attempted, pilot in command
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - flight control,stabilator - overload
- Loss of control - in flight, descent
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER DEPARTED ON THE FLIGHT WITHOUT A WX BRIEFING DESPITE THE EXISTENCE OF LOW CEILINGS AND RAIN. WITNESSES RELATED HEARING THE ENGINE ACCELERATE AND SEEING THE ACFT START A CLIMB BEFORE IT BROKE UP AND IMPACTED THE GROUND. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER FAILED NEGATIVELY AT A LOW ALTITUDE RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF CONTROL AND SUBSEQUENT COLLISION WITH THE TERRAIN. THE STUDENT PLT BEGAN FLYING IN 1974.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N9014W (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-235
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-10597
- Airframe hours: 1111
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-B4B5 235 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Charles E. Morris
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 21, 1983, 12 hours before
- Departed: N80, OCEAN CITY, MD
- Destination: 1G8, TORONTO, OH

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 156 total, 16 in this make and model, 134 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft broken
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SBY, 17 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 19840721063129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840721063129A), Jul 21, 1984: Piper PA28235, Selbyville, DE, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Student pilot carrying passenger without a current solo signoff. Lost control in low ceiling and heavy rain.

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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