FTW83FA384

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-28-161 · El Paso, TX · August 18, 1983

Accident · FatalField investigationFinal report
Date
August 17, 1983, 18:00 local (Aug 18, 1983, 00:00 UTC)
Place
El Paso, TX
Injuries
4 fatal
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
N8193QPiper PA-28-161
Weather
Dusk
Status
Completed
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19830817045259A
Case key
20755

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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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
Judgment - poorPilot in commandCause
Impairment(alcohol)Pilot in commandCause
Improper use of procedurePilot in command
Weather condition - turbulence(thunderstorms)Factor
Flight into known adverse weather - initiatedPilot in commandFactor
Loss of control - in flightUnknown
Aircraft handling - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Descent - uncontrolledPilot in command
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent
Light condition - duskFactor

Analysis

The plt had postponed the flt due to wx conditions. During a flt from deming, NM to waco, TX, the acft subsequently crashed within the boundries of a private arpt, northwest of El Paso, TX. Impact occurred in a steep left bank, nose low attitude. The degree of disintegration of the wreckage indicated the acft was traveling at a high rate of speed during impact. No preimpact part failure or malfunction was found. The accident had occurred during the last stages of hurricane alica. About 12 mi away, the 1850 MDT wx at El Paso was, in part: clear, visibility 70 mi, wind 250 deg at 4 KTS. However, cumulonimbus buildups were reported in all quadrants & a UH-1 plt reported rainshowers & moderate turbulence in the vicinity of the crash site. A toxicological check of the plt's muscle tissue fluid showed a concentration of 127MG% (.127%) alcohol. The plt had vision in only 1 eye & was required to perform a test of demonstrated ability on each renewal of his med cert, but he had failed to do so; therefore, his med cert was invalid.

Aircraft

Registration
N8193Q
Reported as
Piper PA-28-161
Category
Airplane
Engine
Lycoming O-320-D3G, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Aeronautics Inc
Departed
DMN · Deming, NM
Destination
ACT · Waco, TX
Airport
Skyport

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
41
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Unknown, Unknown
Flight hours
400 total · 10 in this make and model

Weather

Conditions
Dusk
Temperature
88 °F, dew point 57 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
ELP

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.