DEN83FA062

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-23F-250 · Moab, UT · February 16, 1983

Accident · FatalField investigationFinal report
Date
February 15, 1983, 22:00 local (Feb 16, 1983, 05:00 UTC)
Place
Moab, UT
Injuries
2 fatal
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
N63808Piper PA-23F-250
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
Status
Completed
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19830215004109A
Case key
15972

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

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.

In flight collision with terrain/waterCruise - normal
Stolen aircraft/unauthorized use - intentionalPilot in command
Weather condition - high density altitudeFactor
Terrain condition - mountainous/hillyFactor
Terrain condition - high terrainFactor
Light condition - dark nightFactor
Altitude - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Impairment(alcohol)Pilot in commandCause
Impairment(drugs)Pilot in commandCause

Analysis

The acft crashed into the top of a mesa at the 5500 ft level (MSL). The acft then cartwheeled about 300 ft on a heading of 360 degrees. Sheriffs deputies discovered at the accident site that the acft was loaded with marijuana weighing ABOUT798 lbs. An additional amount of marijuana estimated at 200 lbs was scattered along the wreckage path. Two bodies were recovered at the scene. Neither was the plt who had rented the acft. Three days after the accident the plt who had originally rented the acft reported the acft stolen. It was not determined if there was a connection between the renter and the decreased acft occupants. The pilots body tested positive for alcohol & drugs, with an alcohol level of 0.066%. Percent. The acft was headed directly toward the rotating beacon at canyonlands arpt, elevation 4574 ft MSL. The densityalt was computed to be 5359 ft at the crash site at the time of the accident. The departure point and the destination ofthe acft was not determined. The acft was scheduled to be returned the day after the accident by the original renter.

Aircraft

Registration
N63808
Reported as
Piper PA-23F-250
Category
Airplane
Serial number
27-7754132
Airframe hours
670
Engine
Lycoming TIO-540-C1A, 250 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Fire
On-Ground
Flight
Part 91
Operator
Rocky Mountain Piper Aircraft
Registered owner
Fogel & Associates
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · March 18, 1982

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
38
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Toxicology
Performed
Flight hours
6,000 total

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
Wind
70° at 3 knots
Visibility
30 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
10,000 ft overcast
Temperature
41 °F, dew point 30 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
GJC, 82 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.