# NTSB DCA83AA034: Piper PA-31-350, N88LV, Peach Springs, AZ, August 17, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: August 17, 1983, 12:27 local (19:27 UTC)
- Place: Peach Springs, AZ
- Coordinates: 35.64019, -113.610305 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6402&lon=-113.6103&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 10 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Board-adopted at Board Meeting
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15788
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA83AA034
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15788/pdf
- Board report AAR8405 (PDF): https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR8405.pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA83AA034

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, climb

## Analysis

THE ACFT DEPARTED LAS VEGAS, NV AS THE 2ND OF 5 ACFT ON A SCHEDULED GRAND CANYON SIGHT-SEEING FLT. THE 1ST PORTION OF THE FLT WAS OVER THE LAS VEGAS STRIP AREA & LAKE MEAD & WAS UNEVENTFUL. HOWEVER, WX CONDITIONS PRECLUDED THE PLT FROM CONTINUING OVER THE SHIVWITS PLATEAU. RADIO CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN THE PLT & OTHER COMPANY AIRCREWS INDICATED THAT THE PLT OF N88LV HAD ENCOUNTERED DETERIORATING WX CONDITIONS IN THE CANYON & THAT HE HAD DECIDED TO ABORT THE FLT & CLIMB OUT. LATER ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT THE ACFT WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND ON 8/18/83 WHERE THE ACFT HAD COLLIDED ON THE WEST WALL OF A MESA INSIDE THE CANYON. A HELICOPTER PLT FLYING ABOUT 14 MI NORTH OF THE CRASH SITE REPORTED CLOUDS AT GROUND LEVEL (4500 FT MSL). THE ELEVATION OF THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS 6320 FT. SHORTLY BEFORE HIS LAST TRANSMITION, THE PLT STATED HE WAS 'JUST SHORT OF TWIN PEAKS.' THE PLT HAD TRANSMITTED HIS POSITION FROM PEACH VOR, INDICATING HE WAS IN THE AREA OF THE CRASH SITE. TWIN PEAKS WAS NORTHEAST & HAD SIMILAR TERRAIN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N88LV (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31-350
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 31-7752118
- Airframe hours: 4325
- Engines: LYCOMING L/TIO-540-J 350 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Las Vegas Airlines
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, August 7, 1983, 44 hours before
- Departed: VGT, LAS VEGAS, NV
- Destination: GCN, GRAND CANYON, AZ
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: GCN, Grand Canyon

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 8,099 total, 1,782 in this make and model, 7,266 as pilot in command, 160 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: GCN, 66 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 19830817075689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830817075689A), Aug 17, 1983: Piper PA31350, Grand Canyon, NV, Destroyed, 9 fatal. Encountered deteriorating weather in the Grand Canyon. Began climbout in clouds and struck Canyon wall at 5000 feet

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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