# NTSB FTW83FA384: Piper PA-28-161, N8193Q, El Paso, TX, August 18, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 17, 1983, 18:00 local (Aug 18, 1983, 00:00 UTC)
- Place: El Paso, TX
- Coordinates: 31.799253, -106.360458 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.7993&lon=-106.3605&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 20755
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW83FA384
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20755/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW83FA384

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - impairment(alcohol), pilot in command (cause)
  - improper use of procedure, pilot in command
  - weather condition - turbulence(thunderstorms) (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, unknown
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - descent - uncontrolled, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent
  - light condition - dusk (contributing factor)

## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8193Q-1984-07-11), registration cancelled 1984-07-11, S/N 28-8216141 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19830817045259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830817045259A), Aug 17, 1983: Piper PA28161, El Paso, TX, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Lost control of aircraft in a vertical bank near a private strip. Dived into the ground. Alcohol at a high level.

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.