# NTSB DEN83FA062: Piper PA-23F-250, N63808, Moab, UT, February 16, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 15, 1983, 22:00 local (Feb 16, 1983, 05:00 UTC)
- Place: Moab, UT
- Coordinates: 38.529682, -109.550262 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5297&lon=-109.5503&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15972
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN83FA062
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15972/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN83FA062

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise - normal
  - stolen aircraft/unauthorized use - intentional, pilot in command
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - impairment(alcohol), pilot in command (cause)
  - impairment(drugs), pilot in command (cause)

## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N63808-1983-11-17), registration cancelled 1983-11-17, S/N 27-7754132 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23F-250
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250 (6PCLM)](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250-6pclm) (registry code 7102313) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 27-7754132
- Airframe hours: 670
- Engines: 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19830215004109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830215004109A), Feb 15, 1983: Piper STCPA23, Moab, UT, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Struck the top of a mesa. Indicates a descent to the airport was in progress. Marijuana and alcohol test positive.

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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