- Date
- May 16, 1983, 18:45 local (May 17, 1983, 00:45 UTC)
- Place
- Burns, WY
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N33066Piper PA-28R
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19830516070039A
- Case key
- 15985
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.
Analysis
Before departing, the plt received a wx briefing & was advised that VFR flt was not recommended thru western Nebraska & eastern Wyoming. A frontal wx sys was forcasted to produce thunderstorm activity with associated turbulence & rain. Reportedly, the plt was anxious to make the flt so he could deliver needed parts for a machine that was to be used in a publicly advertised demonstration. Additionally, he felt he could help his partner complete the project in time for the demonstration. The plt elected to file a VFR flt & then departed as planned. While en route, the acft encountered wx & subsequently crashed. Just before impact, the acft was seen spiraling after it came out of a low overcast with no right wing or tail section. After the plane crashed, a witness saw the right wing 'drifting down.' An exam of the wreckage revealed evidence that both horizontal stabilators failed from positive airloads & the right outboard wing section failed from negative airloads. No evidence found of a malfunction/failure before inflt breakup.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N33066
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28R
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28R-7535115
- Airframe hours
- 4,175
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-260-C1C, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Stouffer Flying Service
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- HYS · Hays, KS
- Destination
- 4113 · Chester, MT
- Flight plan
- VFR
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 41
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 221 total · 68 in this make and model · 177 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- 50° at 15 knots
- Visibility
- 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 300 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 41 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- CYS, 20 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.