# NTSB CHI84LA040: Piper PA-28-140, N6128W, Mankato, MN, November 14, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 13, 1983, 18:56 local (Nov 14, 1983, 00:56 UTC)
- Place: Mankato, MN
- Coordinates: 44.160888, -93.989746 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.1609&lon=-93.9897&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12493
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI84LA040
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12493/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI84LA040

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - haze/smoke (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - delayed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - fluid,fuel - low level (contributing factor)
  - visual lookout - not possible, pilot in command
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command

## Analysis

THE PLT RECEIVED 2 WX BRIEFINGS BEFORE THE FLT & WAS ADVISED THAT VFR FLT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED. PRIOR TO DEPARTING, THE 50 GAL FUEL SYS WAS SERVICED WITH 35 GAL OF FUEL. THE PLT REPORTED THAT DURING THE FLT, HE DESCENDED THE ACFT THRU A HOLE IN THE CLOUDS ABOVE A HIGHWAY. HE THEN FOLLOWED ANOTHER HIGHWAY & TURNED TOWARD THE DESTINATION ARPT. WHILE UNDER A LOW CLOUD COVER, HE ENCUNTERED HALE & GROUND FOG, THEN BECAME DISORIENTED. HE THEN TRIED TO FIND THE HIGHWAY AGAIN TO LAND, BUT CRASHED INTO A HILL IN AN OPEN FIELD AT NIGHT. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THERE WAS .25 GAL OF FUEL IN THE LEFT FUEL TANK & 1.5 GAL OF FUEL IN THE RIGHT TANK. TWO LOCAL RESIDENTS STATED THAT THEY HEARD THE ACFT FLYING IN THE AREA FOR ABOUT 10 MIN PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THEY REPORTED THAT THE ACFT MISSED THEIR HOUSE BY ABOUT 4 FT WHEN IT MADE THE LAST CIRCLE. THEY WATCHED IT GO OVER THEIR HOUSE, THEN HEARD IT CRASH INTO A HILL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N6128W (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-201 45
- Airframe hours: 3413
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Victor W. Vandrey
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 23, 1983, 50 hours before
- Departed: D53, HETTINGER, ND

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 611 total, 610 in this make and model, 568 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 140° at 10 knots
- Lowest ceiling: 200 ft overcast
- Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MKT, 2 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 19831113059859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831113059859A), Nov 13, 1983: Piper PA28140, Mankato, MN, Destroyed. Aircraft crashed in area of low ceiling and visibility when pilot was trying to continue flight VFR.

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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