# NTSB DEN83FA001: Piper PA-28-181, N6553C, Wolsey, SD, October 1, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 1, 1982, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Wolsey, SD
- Coordinates: 44.409294, -98.47013 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.4093&lon=-98.4701&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 1, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 73085
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN83FA001
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73085/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN83FA001

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - iaf to faf/outer marker (ifr)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - not obtained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command
  - anxiety/apprehension, pilot in command

## Analysis

THE PILOT HAD BEEN ISSUED AN INSTRUMENT RATING ON 8/6/82 AND HAD LOGGED 5.6 HRS SINCE THAT TIME. THE PILOT'S INSTRUCTOR BELIEVED THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN HIS FIRST LOW APPROACH IN ACTUAL INSTRUMENT CONDITIONS SINCE HE COMPLETED HIS CHECK FLIGHT. A WITNESS STATED THAT BEFORE TAKEOFF, THE PILOT APPEARED NERVOUS ABOUT HIS DEPARTURE AND IT APPEARED THAT HE NEEDED TO GET SOMEWHERE DESPITE THE WEATHER. AFTER RECEIVING A WEATHER BRIEFING, HE DEPARTED ON AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN WITH KNOWN RAIN, FOG AND LOW CEILINGS AT THE DESTINATION. DURING ARRIVAL THE PILOT WAS CLEARED FOR AN ILS APPROACH TO RUNWAY 12. AT ABOUT THE POSITION THAT HE WOULD BE INTERCEPTING A VOR ARC TO TRANSITION TO THE ILS, RADIO AND RADAR CONTACT WERE LOST. LATER THE AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND WHERE IT WOULD HAVE INTERCEPTED THE ARC IN A LEFT TURN. AT THAT POINT, IT HAD IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A NOSE LOW, LEFT WING LOW ATTITUDE. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE AND FLIGHT CONTROLS REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE PRIOR TO GROUND IMPACT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6553C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6553C-1989-01-05), registration cancelled 1989-01-05, S/N 287890382 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7890382
- Airframe hours: 1176
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Peter O. Geyerman
- Registered owner: Peter O. Geyerman
- Departed: RAP, RAPID CITY, SD
- Destination: HON, HURON, SD
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: runway 12, 7,200 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 432 total, 430 in this make and model, 354 as pilot in command, 91 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 30° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 100 ft overcast
- Temperature: 120 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: HON, 3 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 19821001050149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19821001050149A), Oct 1, 1982: Piper PA28181, Wolsey, SD, Destroyed. New instrument rated pilot on first low approach lost control. Crashed in cornfield. Weather below approach minimums.

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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