# NTSB FTW83FRD01: Piper PA-28R-200, N5369T, Henderson, LA, December 26, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: December 26, 1982, 10:35 local (16:35 UTC)
- Place: Henderson, LA
- Coordinates: 30.270252, -91.899116 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2703&lon=-91.8991&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 26, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71013
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW83FRD01
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71013/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW83FRD01

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, cruise
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS WERE ON A FLIGHT FROM BEAUMONT, TX TO COVINGTON, LA. THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT DEPARTED ON A SPECIAL VFR CLEARANCE. AT THAT TIME, THE WEATHER AT BEAUMONT WAS 300 FT OVERCAST, VISIBILITY 12 MI. WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS ABOUT 10 MI NORTHEAST, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS AT 1400 FT MSL. AFTER THAT, NO FURTHER TRANSMISSIONS WERE RECEIVED. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO PENETRATE A LINE OF HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS NEAR HENDERSON, LA. WHILE IN THAT VICINITY, THE PLANE COLLIDED WITH A LINE OF TREES ABOUT 50 FT AGL, THEN IMPACTED THE GROUND ABOUT 60 FT BEYOND. AN INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NO PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION. A WITNESS HEARD THE ENGINE OPERATING BEFORE IMPACT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5369T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5369T-2014-10-27), registration cancelled 2014-10-27, S/N 28R-7235227, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-200
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28R-7235227
- Airframe hours: 3080
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-C1C 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Lyndon Payne/Daniel Williams/O
- Registered owner: John Brodhead Jr.
- Departed: BPT, BEAUMONT,, TX
- Destination: LA08, COVINGTON, LA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 125 total, 100 in this make and model, 100 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Lowest ceiling: 400 ft overcast

## 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 19821226066699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19821226066699A), Dec 26, 1982: Piper PA28R200, Henderson, LA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Aircraft crashed during IMC in vicinity of line of thunderstorms.

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.

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