CHI83FA441

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-28-161 · Bethany, IL · September 26, 1983

Accident · FatalField investigationFinal report
Date
September 25, 1983, 20:55 local (Sep 26, 1983, 01:55 UTC)
Place
Bethany, IL
Injuries
2 fatal
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
N8236UPiper PA-28-161
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
Status
Completed
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19830925075899A
Case key
12029

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

In flight encounter with weatherCruise - normal
Procedures/directives - not followedPilot in command
Lack of recent experiencePilot in command
Light condition - dark nightFactor
Weather condition - cloudsFactor
Weather condition - low ceilingFactor
Weather condition - rainFactor
Flight into known adverse weather - continuedPilot in commandCause
Lack of total experiencePilot in commandFactor
Lack of total instrument timePilot in commandFactor
Loss of control - in flightCruise
Aircraft handling - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Spatial disorientationPilot in commandCause
Descent - uncontrolled
Airframe/component/system failure/malfunctionDescent - uncontrolled
Design stress limits of aircraft - exceededPilot in commandCause
Flight control,stabilator surface - overload
Flight control,stabilator surface - separation
Wing - overload
Wing - separation
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled

Analysis

Prior to this flt, the plt had contacted a fss & inquired about the wx. He was advised that VFR flt to terre haute, IN, was not recommended. He took off at about 1830 CDT. The plt again contacted the fss & inquired about the wx at burlington, IA & springfield, IL (a probable route to avoid congested traffic in the chicago, IL area). Reportedly, the wx in the burlington area was acceptable, but the plt was again advised that flt to terra haute was not recommended. This was the last known radio contact with the acft. Just prior to the accident, witnesses heard the acft. One witness heard the eng 'rev up' & then saw a blinking light, just before the plane crashed. An exam revealed that the acft had separated in flt. The r stabilizer, lower half of the tail cone, forward section of the vertical stabilizer, l flap & l wing were found about 1 to 1 1/2 mi from the main wreckage. No pre-accident part failure or malfunction was found. The plt had logged 1 hr of night time in the preceeding 90 days, but had not logged ngt lndgs drg that time.

Aircraft

Registration
N8236U
Reported as
Piper PA-28-161
Category
Airplane
Serial number
28-8016360
Airframe hours
886
Engine
Lycoming O-320-D36, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
John G. Kelly, Jr
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · April 19, 1983 · 38 hours before
Departed
OK9 · Oelwein, IA
Destination
HUF · Terre Haute, IN

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
33
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Toxicology
Performed
Flight hours
170 total · 117 in this make and model · 135 as pilot in command · 21 in the last 90 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
Wind
200° at 9 knots
Visibility
7 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
1,500 ft broken
Temperature
59 °F, dew point 55 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
DEC, 14 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.