FTW83FA087

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-32-300 · Animas, NM · December 26, 1982

Accident · FatalField investigationFinal report
Date
December 26, 1982, 10:35 local (17:35 UTC)
Place
Animas, NM
Injuries
7 fatal
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
XAHIJPiper PA-32-300
Weather
Day
Status
Completed · report December 26, 1983
Report
Approved by Office Director
Case key
69786

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.

In flight encounter with weatherCruise - normal
Preflight planning/preparation - inadequatePilot in commandFactor
Weather condition - cloudsFactor
Weather condition - low ceilingFactor
Weather condition - snowFactor
Flight into known adverse weather - continuedPilot in commandCause
QualificationPilot in command
Lack of total instrument timePilot in command
Airframe/component/system failure/malfunctionUnknown
Aircraft weight and balance - exceededPilot in commandFactor
Design stress limits of aircraft - excessivePilot in commandCause

Analysis

The acft departed ague prieta, sonora, Mexico with no flt plan on a flt to janos, chihuahua, Mexico. Drg departure, the plt's son observed a dark threatening cloud bank in the direction of flt near a mtn range. When the acft did not arrive at the destination, a search was begun which was extended on the us side of the border. On 1/15/82, a rancher found the wreckage which was scattered over an area exceeding 1 mi in length. An investigation revealed that the tail assembly, right wing, about 1/2 of the left wing and windscreen had separated in flt. No evidence was found that would indicate a preimpact malfunction or failure of the aircraft, engine, propeller or accessories, except for separated components which showed evidence of in-flt plt induced overloads. Local residents reported a severe snow storm with heavy wet snow and reduced visibilities at the time of the accident. The pilot was not rated for instrument flight. Drg tkof, the acft was aprx 547 lbs over its max gross weight limit, CG aprx 2 in behind aft limit.

Aircraft

Registration
XAHIJ
Reported as
Piper PA-32-300
Category
Airplane
Serial number
327840020
Airframe hours
2,203
Engine
Lycoming IO-540-K1AS, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Operator
Ignacia Valenzuela
Registered owner
Ignacia Valenzuela
Departed
Agua Prieta
Destination
Janos

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
56
Certificates
Foreign, Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Unknown, Unknown

Weather

Conditions
Day
Wind
50° at 15 knots
Temperature
95 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
DOU, 50 nm away