# NTSB DEN83LA213: Piper PA-28B-150, N5821W, Watford City, ND, September 12, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 12, 1983, 07:30 local (13:30 UTC)
- Place: Watford City, ND
- Coordinates: 47.799015, -103.270469 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.7990&lon=-103.2705&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16158
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN83LA213
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16158/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN83LA213

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, maneuvering
  - fuel system,carburetor - ice (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - precautionary landing - attempted, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,nose gear assembly - overload (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED DURING A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING DUE TO WEATHER. THE PLT HAD BEEN BRIEFED ON THE WEATHER THE EVENING BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT STATED THAT WHEN THE FLIGHT WAS 20 MINUTES FROM HOME HE 'THOUGHT WE COULD MAKE IT.' HOWEVER, HE DECIDED TO LAND ON A RANCH BELOW AND WAIT ON WEATHER IMPROVEMENT. DURING MANEUVERING TO LAND THE FOG WAS ENTERED AND THE ENGINE BEGAN LOSING POWER. THE PLT SAW THE GROUND AND STALL LANDED. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED DURING ROLLOUT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5821W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5821W), registered now, S/N 28-2033 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28B-150
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-150) (registry code 7102804) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-2033
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Larry Lester Bieber
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 1, 1983, 12 hours before
- Departed: Y74, PARSHALL, ND
- Destination: SDY, SIDNEY, MT

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 85 total, 25 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 20° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 700 ft overcast
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ISN, 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19830912048619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830912048619A), Sep 12, 1983: Piper STCPA28, Watford City, ND, Substantial damage. Pilot made precautionary landing due to weather. Aircraft was substantially damaged during landing.

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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