# NTSB CHI83LA233: Piper PA-34-200T, N2164X, Woodruff, WI, May 28, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 28, 1983, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place: Woodruff, WI
- Location: 45.9279° N, 89.7309° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at LAKELAND/NOBLE F LEE MEML FLD (ARV), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.9279&lon=-89.7309&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 5 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12190
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI83LA233
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12190/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI83LA233

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, approach
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
  - weather radar - improper use of, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - initiated, pilot in command
  - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, approach
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command
- In flight collision with object, other
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - wing - foreign object damage
- Main gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,main gear - overload

## Analysis

THE PLT WAS BRIEFED ON THE WX BEFORE DEPARTING WAUKEGAN, IL. AT THE DESTINATION, WOODRUFF, WI, THE WX WAS FORECASTED TO BE VFR, EXCEPT FOR LIGHT RAIN & THE CHANCE OF SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS. WHILE EN ROUTE, THE PLT CHECKED ON THE WX & SPOKE WITH ANOTHER PLT THAT HAD JUST FLOWN ALONG HER INTENDED ROUTE. THE DESTINATION ARPT REMAINED VFR AS FORECASTED. BEFORE ARRIVAL, THE ACFT ENTERED CLOUDS & PROCEEDED INTO AN AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS. THE PLT REPORTED HER RADAR WAS PAINTING HEAVY CELLS OVER THE ARPT & IN ALL DIRECTIONS, THEN STARTED TO DIVERT. SHORTLY AFTER REVERSING COURSE, THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED A STRONG DOWNDRAFT. THE PLT ADDED POWER & RAISED THE NOSE. SHE REPORTED 'WE WERE PULLED UP INTO A STALL.' AT THIS POINT, THE ACFT ENTERED A NEAR VERTICAL DIVE. DURING RECOVERY, THE LEFT WING HIT A TREE, BUT THE ACFT CONTINUED TO FLY. BY THEN, THE ACFT WAS OUT OF THE CLOUDS & THE PLT FLEW TO THE ORIGINAL DESTINATION & LANDED. DURING THE LANDING, THE LEFT GEAR WAS 'SHUTTERING.' THE ACFT THEN BEGAN TO SKID, WENT OFF RWY & THE LEFT GEAR FAILED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N2164X (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34-200T
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 34-7970182
- Airframe hours: 1500
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-360-E 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Aldridge Electric Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 14, 1983, 83 hours before
- Departed: UGN, WAUKEGAN, IL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: ARV, Minocqua Woodruff, runway 36, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 337 total, 117 in this make and model, 222 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: RHI, 25 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 19830528021579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830528021579A), May 28, 1983: Piper PA34200T, Woodruff, WI, Substantial damage. Lost control in area of thunderstorms. Wing hit a tree on recovery. Remained airborne. Collapsed gear on landing.

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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