# NTSB FTW83FA373: Piper PA-28-181, N21537, Ville Platte, LA, August 12, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 12, 1983, 09:35 local (14:35 UTC)
- Place: Ville Platte, LA
- Coordinates: 30.690176, -92.280532 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.6902&lon=-92.2805&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 20754
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW83FA373
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20754/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW83FA373

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence(thunderstorms) (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (cause)
  - impairment(alcohol), pilot in command (cause)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, maneuvering
  - airspeed(va) - above, pilot in command (cause)
  - 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

PRIOR TO TAKEOFF THE PLT HAD RECEIVED A WX BRIEFING & WAS ADVISED THAT VFR FLT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED. HE WAS GIVEN CONVECTIVE SIGMET 13C WHICH CALLED FOR THUNDERSTORMS WITH TOPS ABOVE 45,000 FT THROUGHOUT HIS ROUTE OF FLT. ABOUT 25 MINAFTER TAKEOFF FOUR WITNESSES SAW THE ACFT JUST BEFORE IT CRASHED. TWO STATED THAT THEY SAW THE ACFT IN A TURN AT ABOUT 300 FT WHEN A WING SEPARATED. THE OTHER TWO STATED THAT THE WING HAD ALREADY SEPARATED WHEN THEY SAW THE ACFT. A HEAVY THUNDERSTORM WAS IN PROGRESS AT THE TIME. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT WING HAD FAILED IN AN UPWARD DIRECTION & BOTH HORIZONTAL STABILATORS HAD SEPARATED DOWNWARD. THE PLT'S BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL WAS 0.136%.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N21537](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N21537-1984-07-13), registration cancelled 1984-07-13, S/N 28-7990053 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7990053
- Airframe hours: 1740
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: American Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 27, 1983, 50 hours before
- Departed: 9LA6, ALEXANDRIA, LA
- Destination: CEW, CRESTVIEW, FL
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 209 total, 5 in this make and model, 164 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 700 ft broken
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ESF, 50 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 19830812040669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830812040669A), Aug 12, 1983: Piper PA28181, Ville Platte, LA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Aircraft was observed in the vicinity of thunderstorm with right wing separating from aircraft.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.