# NTSB DEN88FA096: Piper PA-28-161, N3850M, Milford, UT, April 14, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 14, 1988, 15:26 local (21:26 UTC)
- Place: Milford, UT
- Coordinates: 38.379867, -112.930328 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3799&lon=-112.9303&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 16, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17360
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN88FA096
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17360/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN88FA096

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence(thunderstorms) (contributing factor)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - wing - overload
  - wing - separation
  - horizontal stabilizer surface - overload
  - horizontal stabilizer surface - separation
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PLT (WITH A RECENT INSTRUMENT RATING) RCVD A WX BRIEFING FM CEDAR CITY (CDC) FSS & FILED AN IFR FLT PLAN FM PROVO (PVU) TO ST GEORGE (SGU). CURRENT SGU WX WASN'T AVAILABLE, BUT WX FOR CDC (ABT 45 MI NNE) WAS PROVIDED. THE PLT WAS ADZDOF MOIST UNSTABLE AIR, RAIN, OBSCURED MTNS & CUMULUS CLOUDS ALONG THE ROUTE. ALSO, HE WAS ADZD OF A PIREP CONCERNING AN ENCTR WITH CLR ICG NR CDC AT 13,000'. APCHG MILFORD AT 11,000', THE PILOT CALLED CDC FSS & RCVD A WX UPDATE. CURRENT SGU WX WAS STILL NOT AVAILABLE, BUT HE WAS ADZD OF THUNDERSTORMS EN ROUTE. HE RETURNED TO ARTCC FREQ, GOT CLNC TO DESCEND TO 10,000', THEN TO CLIMB TO 12,000'. SOON THEREAFTER, RADIO AND RADAR CONTACT WERE LOST. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT BROKE UP IN FLT (WINGS & STABILIZERS SEPD) & WRECKAGE WAS SCATTERED OVER A 1-1/4 MI AREA. NO PRE-ACCIDENT CRACKS OR FATIGUE WAS FOUND. AN AIRCRAFT WAS SEEN FLYING INTO A WX CELL. GROUND WITNESSES THEN HEARD AN EXPLOSIVE NOISE AND SAW PARTS OF THE AIRCRAFT FALLING FM THE WX CELL. SOON THEREAFTER, PEA SIZE HAIL FELL FM THE CLOUD.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3850M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3850M-2013-08-13), registration cancelled 2013-08-13, S/N 28-7816380, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 78 16380
- Airframe hours: 2571
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Sypherd, Shawn D.
- Registered owner: Sypherd, Shawn D. Et. Al
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: PVU, PROVO, UT
- Destination: SGU, ST GEORGE, UT
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 22; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 167 total, 81 in this make and model, 118 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 15 knots
- Temperature: 46 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19880414063289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880414063289A), Apr 14, 1988: Piper PA28161, Milford, UT, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Airframe failure in flight. Indicates pilot entered a high level storm cloud. Lost control and exceeded load limits

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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