FTW83FA164

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-24-260 · Salt Flat, TX · March 23, 1983

Accident · FatalField investigationFinal report
Date
March 23, 1983, 12:50 local (19:50 UTC)
Place
Salt Flat, TX
Injuries
3 fatal
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
N8652PPiper PA-24-260
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19830323009019A
Case key
20713

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
Flight into known adverse weather - initiatedPilot in commandFactor
Overconfidence in personal abilityPilot in commandFactor
Lack of total instrument timePilot in command
Weather condition - cloudsFactor
Proper altitude - exceededPilot in commandFactor
Physical impairment(anoxia/hypoxia)Pilot in commandFactor
Weather condition - mountain waveFactor
Weather condition - turbulenceFactor
Airframe/component/system failure/malfunctionUnknown
Design stress limits of aircraft - exceededCause
Wing - overloadFactor
Flight control,aileron - overloadFactor
Flight control,stabilator surface - overloadFactor
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled

Analysis

Before departing tucson, the plt was advised of 2 marginal wx systems along his route. He took off at 1038 MST. At 1130,he contacted ATC & reported at 13,800'. From then until 1214, his alt varied between 10,000' & 16,000'. Radar contact was lost at 1228 while he was below 10,000'. At 1240, he reported at 12,5000', then climbed to 14,500' to reestablish radar contact with ATC. Shortly thereafter, radar & radio contact were lost. School children saw the acft before it crashed. According to them, it was in level flt at aprx 3000' AGL (7000' MSL), then pitched nose down, began spinning & crashed. They did not see anything separate from the acft. An exam revealed the left outboard wing panel & part of the left aileron had separated in flt. The outer portion of the left horizontal stabilator had folded upward. The wing panelwas found 3.5 mi away with evidence it had failed up & aft. There was evidence of moderate to severe turbulence in the vicinity of mtns. The plt had been briefed on areas of turbulence, icing, precpitaiton & deteriorating ceilings.

Aircraft

Registration
N8652P
Reported as
Piper PA-24-260
Category
Airplane
Serial number
24-4095
Airframe hours
2,988
Engine
Lycoming IO-540-D4A5, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Ray D. Fryer
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · January 24, 1983 · 1 hours before
Departed
TUS · Tucson, AZ
Destination
CNM · Carlsbad, NM

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
50
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Toxicology
Performed

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
270° at 33 knots, gusting 46
Visibility
70 statute miles
Temperature
45 °F, dew point 23 °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.