DEN83FA114

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-28R · Burns, WY · May 17, 1983

Accident · FatalField investigationFinal report
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.

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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 encounter with weatherCruise - normal
Light condition - duskFactor
Weather condition - low ceilingFactor
Weather condition - thunderstormFactor
Weather condition - turbulenceFactor
Weather condition - rainFactor
Vfr flight into imc - continuedPilot in commandCause
Self-induced pressurePilot in commandFactor
Loss of control - in flightCruise
Aircraft handling - not possiblePilot in command
Spatial disorientationPilot in commandCause
Lack of total instrument timePilot in commandFactor
Airframe/component/system failure/malfunctionDescent - uncontrolled
Design stress limits of aircraft - exceededPilot in commandCause
Flight control,stabilator - overloadFactor
Wing - overloadFactor
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled

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.