# NTSB CHI83FA135: Piper PA-28-161, N82026, Danvers, IL, March 13, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 13, 1983, 00:35 local (06:35 UTC)
- Place: Danvers, IL
- Coordinates: 40.199909, -88.809364 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1999&lon=-88.8094&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11982
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI83FA135
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11982/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI83FA135

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - haze/smoke (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED AT NIGHT DURING IMC WEATHER CONDITIONS ON THE RETURN PORTION OF A CROSS-COUNTRY. THE PILOT HAD CHECKED THE WEATHER OUTBOUND, BUT THERE WAS NO RECORD OF A BRIEFING FOR THE RETURN FLIGHT. THE OUTBOUND FLT WAS IN EARLY DUSK. THE RETURN WAS BEGUN JUST BEFORE MIDNIGHT AND THE CRASH OCCURRED AT 0035 CST. THE WEATHER AT PEORIA, IL WAS 500 FOOT CEILING, 4 MILES VISIBILITY IN FOG AND HAZE. THE PILOT HAD 28 HOURS FLIGHT TIME IN THE TYPE AIRCRAFT BEING USED, 16 HOURS TOTAL NIGHT EXPERIENCE AND NO INSTRUMENT RATING. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED IN A RIGHT WING LOWATTITUDE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N82026 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-8216149
- Airframe hours: 112
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Mead Raymond Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 22, 1983, 12 hours before
- Departed: DNV, DANVILLE, IL
- Destination: 3MY, PEORIA, IL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 90 total, 28 in this make and model, 33 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 200° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: PIA, 22 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 19830313007099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830313007099A), Mar 13, 1983: Piper PA28161, Danvers, IL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Lost control in night IMC.flew into trees. Low time VFR pilot failed to recheck weather for return flight.

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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