- Date
- August 12, 1991, 12:41 local (17:41 UTC)
- Place
- Guide Rock, NE
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N5145PPiper PA-24-250
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 8, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19910812033709A
- Case key
- 14915
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Spatial disorientation, and exceeding the design limits of the aircraft. Factors related to the accident are inadequate preflight planning, VFR flight into IMC, flight weather avoidance assistance not followed, excessive altitude, physical impairment (anoxia/hypoxia), and lack of total instrument time.
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.
Analysis
The pilot who was not instrument rated was trying to remain VFR on top when he encountered IMC at 17,500 feet. Aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent after the pilot tried to maneuver to remain in VMC. The right wing separated from the aircraft during descent. The pilot was above 14,000 feet for one hour. The aircraft was not oxygen equipped, and no evidence of portable oxygen was found. There was no record of a prelfight weather briefing. The pilot got an inflight weather briefing 1.5 hours before the crash in which VFR was not recommended, and a route of flight to avoid the weather was suggested. A second inflight weather briefing was obstained 20 minutes beore the crash in which a route of flight to avoid the weather was again suggested. Pilot continued until he was IMC.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5145P
- Reported as
- Piper PA-24-250
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 24-161
- Airframe hours
- 2,441
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540-A1C5, 250 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Thomas K. Phelps
- Registered owner
- Thomas K. Phelps
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 20, 1991 · 20 hours before
- Departed
- SPF · Spearfish, SD
- Destination
- FYV · Fayetteville, AR
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
- 57
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 817 total · 172 in this make and model · 756 as pilot in command · 18 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 190° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 4,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 64 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- HSI, 30 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.
Other investigations on N5145P · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.