# NTSB CHI83FA441: Piper PA-28-161, N8236U, Bethany, IL, September 26, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 25, 1983, 20:55 local (Sep 26, 1983, 01:55 UTC)
- Place: Bethany, IL
- Coordinates: 39.639896, -88.739852 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6399&lon=-88.7399&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): 12029
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI83FA441
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12029/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI83FA441

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command
  - lack of recent experience, pilot in command
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total instrument time, 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)
  - descent - uncontrolled
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - uncontrolled
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - flight control,stabilator surface - overload
  - flight control,stabilator surface - separation
  - wing - overload
  - wing - separation
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8236U-1989-03-16), registration cancelled 1989-03-16, S/N 288016360 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-8016360
- Airframe hours: 886
- Engines: 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19830925075899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830925075899A), Sep 25, 1983: Piper PA28161, Bethany, IL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Flew into adverse weather, overstressed airframe. Separation of airframe in flight. VFR flight not reccommended.

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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