# NTSB CHI83FA267: Piper PA28-161, N2405U, Cambridge, OH, June 20, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 19, 1983, 22:35 local (Jun 20, 1983, 02:35 UTC)
- Place: Cambridge, OH
- Coordinates: 40.019107, -81.580108 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0191&lon=-81.5801&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11999
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI83FA267
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11999/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI83FA267

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, maneuvering
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - ifr procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - haze/smoke (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - stall - uncontrolled, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND DURING A NIGHT FLT AFTER THE PLT ENCOUNTERED WEATHER ACCORDING TO THE RADIO TRANSMISSIONS TO CLEVELAND CENTER. HIS STATEMENTS WERE 'WHAT HAVE YOU GOT ME INTO' AND 'WHAT ARE WE INTO HERE' WHEN ASKED BY CLEVELAND IF HE WAS INTO WEATHER THE PLT REPLIED 'I BELIEVE.' THIS WAS HIS LAST TRANSMISSION. WITNESSES IN THE AREA SAW AND HEARD HIM CIRCLING AND CLIMBING AND DIVING OUT OF CLOUDS. SOME THOUGHT HE WAS 'STUNTING' THE PLT WAS INSTRUMENT RATED BUT DID NOT HAVE VERY MUCH ACTUAL INSTRUMENT EXPERIENCE (ABOUT 6 HRS TOTAL TIME). THE ACFT IMPACTED THEGROUND IN A 38 DEGREE DESCENT ANGLE IN A 35 DEGREE RIGHT BANK. BOTH OCCUPANTS WERE THROWN OUT AND FATALLY INJURED. ENG SOUNDS WERE HEARD UNTIL IMPACT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2405U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2405U-2014-09-19), registration cancelled 2014-09-19, S/N 28-8016023, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28-161
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-8016023
- Airframe hours: 1572
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D3G 161 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Warrior Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 3, 1983, 107 hours before
- Departed: CAF, COLUMBIA, SC
- Destination: 7GB, MIDDLEFIELD, OH
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 378 total, 328 in this make and model, 303 as pilot in command, 79 in the last 90 days, 37 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 260° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 75 statute miles
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ZZV, 21 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 19830619031189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830619031189A), Jun 19, 1983: Piper PA28161, Cambridge, OH, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Pilot lost control of aircraft during night IFR 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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