# NTSB CHI93LA326: Piper PA-28-140, N4477X, Marshall, MN, August 17, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 17, 1993, 09:10 local (14:10 UTC) - Place: Marshall, MN - Coordinates: 44.450893, -95.780838 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.4509&lon=-95.7808&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report October 20, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9284 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI93LA326 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9284/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI93LA326 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S IMPROPER DECISION TO DEPART AFTER RECEIVING A WEATHER BRIEFING WHICH FORECASTED IMC EN ROUTE AND HIS LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL DUE TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - weather condition - clouds - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - spatial disorientation, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT WAS ADVISED OF IMC ALONG HIS PROPOSED ROUTE OF FLIGHT BY THE FAA WEATHER BRIEFER. HE ELECTED TO DEPART ANYWAY AND MET DETERIORATING WEATHER CONDITIONS EN ROUTE. HE WROTE IN HIS REPORT TO THE NTSB THAT HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO TURN AROUND AWAY FROM THE LOW CLOUDS, WHEN HE INADVERTENTLY ENTERED A CLOUD AND BECAME DISORIENTED. WHEN THE AIRPLANE CAME OUT OF THE CLOUD, IT WAS NOSE LOW AND DESCENDING. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE DESCENT AND COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. ## Factual narrative On August 17, 1993, about 0910 central daylight time, a Piper PA- 28-140 airplane, N4477X, was destroyed when it collided with terrain near Marshall, Minnesota. The airplane was substantially damaged. The non-instrument rated private pilot and the sole passenger aboard received serious injuries. Instrument meteorological conditions existed in the vicinity of the crash site. The personal flight originated from Luverne, Minnesota, about 0830 without a flight plan and operated under 14 CFR 91. The pilot received a weather briefing prior to departure. His intended destination was Wilmar, Minnesota. The FAA Flight Service Station Specialist the pilot spoke with on the telephone indicated that VFR flight was not recommended along the proposed route of flight. The specialist noted areas of fog, reduced ceilings and visibility, and IFR conditions. According to the pilot's written statement to the NTSB, at the time he departed Luverne, he estimated the cloud ceiling as 500 to 700 feet above the ground. The closer he got to Marshall, the lower the clouds became and the visibility deteriorated. He decided to turn around and return to Luverne, but he inadvertently entered the clouds and became disoriented. When the airplane came out, it was in a nose low attitude. The pilot said he pulled the nose up but still struck the ground. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4477X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4477X-1995-08-23), registration cancelled 1995-08-23, S/N 287625041 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 287625041 - Airframe hours: 3828 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Jeffrey L. Shawd - Registered owner: Jeffrey L. Shawd - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 26, 1990, 12 hours before - Departed: D19, LUVERNE, MN - Destination: MML, WILLMAR, MN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 300 total, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 8 knots - Visibility: 0.75 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 100 ft overcast - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MML, 5 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 19930817029689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930817029689A), Aug 17, 1993: Piper PA28140, Marshall, MN, Destroyed. Advised IFR. Departed anyway. Flew into cloud. Spiral dive. Unable arrest descent due low altitude. Crashed. ## Other investigations on N4477X (1) 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. - [NTSB MKC88LA004](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC88LA004), Oct 12, 1987: Piper PA-28-140 (N4477X), Storm Lake, IA, substantial damage 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.