# NTSB CHI83FA156: Piper PA-32-300, N4186R, Miltona, MN, March 31, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 31, 1983, 13:12 local (19:12 UTC)
- Place: Miltona, MN
- Coordinates: 46.059089, -95.249588 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.0591&lon=-95.2496&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11986
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI83FA156
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11986/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI83FA156

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- 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)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

PRIOR TO SEPARTING, THE PLT WAS ADVISED OF LOW CEILINGS & POOR VISIBILITY OVER THE ENTIRE PROPOSED ROUTE & WAS ADVISED THAT VFR FLT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED. IN A DISCUSSION WITH PERSONS AT FERGUS FALLS, MN, HE STATED THAT HE WAS GOING TO FOLLOW THE HIGHWAY. ABOUT 20 TO 25 MIN AFTER DEPARTING FERGUS FALLS, THE ACFT CRASHED IN A BARNYARD ON LEVEL TERRAIN. A WITNESS STATED THAT BEFORE THE PLANE CRASHED, THE ENG SOUNDED LIKE THE ACFT WAS PERFORMING DIVES & STALLS & THAT THE 'POWER WOULD INCREASE AND THEN SLOW DOWN.' HE THEN SAW THE ACFT COME OUT OF THE OVERCAST AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED IN ABOUT A 45 DEG NOSE DOWN, 70 TO 80 DEG RIGHT WING LOW ATTITUDE. HE ESTIMATED THAT HE SAW THE ACFT ABOUT 2 SECONDS FROM THE TIME IT CAME OUT OF THE CLOUDS UNTIL IT IMPACTED THE GROUND. NO PREIMPACT, MECHANICAL PART MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE WAS FOUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4186R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4186R-1995-08-02), registration cancelled 1995-08-02, S/N 3240520 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-300
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32-40520
- Airframe hours: 3777
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1A5 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: David G. Stewart
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 2, 1982, 188 hours before
- Departed: FFM, FERGIS FALLS, MN
- Destination: MFI, MARSHFIELD, WI

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 472 total, 155 in this make and model, 415 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 300 ft
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: AXN, 13 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 19830331010389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830331010389A), Mar 31, 1983: Piper PA32300, Miltona, MN, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Pilot departed in IMC. Aircraft was observed coming out of clouds and crashing into ground.

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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