# NTSB FTW81FA128: Piper PA-28, N2209Z, Mcalester, OK, July 30, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: July 30, 1981
- Place: Mcalester, OK · MCALESTER, OK
- Location: 34.9261° N, 95.7736° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of McAlester, OK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9261&lon=-95.7736&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 27, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 124042
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW81FA128
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81FA128

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2655  81/7/30  NR.MCALESTER,OK       PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 29, 116
        TIME - 0815                    N2209Z              PX-  2  0  0  AERIAL SURVEY             TOTAL HOURS, 26 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MCALESTER,OK                LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXCEEDED DESIGNED STRESS LIMITS OF AIRCRAFT
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
           AIRFRAME - WINGS: SPARS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  300
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       75
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          130                                                       4
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- BOTH WINGS FAILED UPWARD,L WING SEPD IN FLT.STABILATOR TWISTED DWNWRD & AFT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2209Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2209Z-2012-08-27), registration cancelled 2012-08-27, S/N 28-7916387, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- 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
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19810730046299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810730046299A), Jul 30, 1981: Piper PA28161, Mcalester, OK, 2 fatal. VFR pilot lost control after entering IMC in hilly area. Speed and abrupt control use exceeded load factor.

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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