# NTSB CHI83FA334: Piper PA-28-181, N2876X, Dwight, IL, August 4, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 4, 1983, 17:14 local (22:14 UTC)
- Place: Dwight, IL
- Coordinates: 41.089778, -88.420242 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0898&lon=-88.4202&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): 12004
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI83FA334
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12004/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI83FA334

## 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)
  - weather evaluation - disregarded, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

THE ACFT CRASHED IN A CORN FIELD DURING A HEAVY RAINSTORM WHILE ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. THE PILOT HAD LOGGED 4 HOUR OF SIMULATED INSTRUMENT TIME AND WAS NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N2876X (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7990517
- Airframe hours: 1703
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Back Fourty Flying Club, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 20, 1982, 185 hours before
- Departed: C18, FRANKFORT, IL
- Destination: MTU, MATTOON, IL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 158 total, 21 in this make and model, 77 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day

## 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 19830804038619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830804038619A), Aug 4, 1983: Piper PA28181, Dwight, IL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. VFR pilot lost control in area of low clouds and heavy rain. Near vertical ground impact. Thunderstorms in area.

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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