# NTSB FTW84LAMS1: Piper PA-34-200, N4437T, Gulf Of Mexico, October 9, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: October 9, 1983, 00:00 local (05:00 UTC)
- Place: Gulf Of Mexico
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21486
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW84LAMS1
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21486/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW84LAMS1

## Sequence of events

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

- Missing aircraft, unknown
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - turbulence(thunderstorms) (contributing factor)
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE ACFT DISAPPEARED ON A FLT OVER A PART OF THE GULF OF MEXICO SOUTH OF CORPUS CHRISTI IN AN AREA OF THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY. THE STORMS WERE DENSELY PACKED AND IT WAS CONSIDERED UNLIKELY THAT VFR FLT COULD BE CONDUCTED IN THE AREA. THEACCIDENT ACFT WAS IN RADIO CONTACT WITH A FORMER INSTRUCTOR AND BROTHER-IN-LAW WHO WAS FLYING TO CORPUS CHRISTI IN A C-172. THE C-172 LANDED AT CORPUS DUE TO THE T-STORMS AND HAD LOST CONTACT WITH N4437T BEFORE LANDING. A PART OF A WING IDENTIFIED AS HAVING COME FROM N4437T WAS PICKED UP BY A SHRIMP BOAT ABOUT 3 WEEKS AFTER THE ACFT WAS MISSING. THE SEARCH BY THE CAP AND COAST GUARD FOUND NOTHING AND THE SEARCH WAS ENDED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4437T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4437T-1984-02-02), registration cancelled 1984-02-02, S/N 34-7250095, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34-200
- Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200) (registry code 7103405) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 34-7250095
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: Unknown
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Jimmy Lee Edwards
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: HRL, HARLINGEN, TX
- Destination: AAP, HOUSTON, TX

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 20° at 17 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 600 ft broken
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CRP

## 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 19831009056809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831009056809A), Oct 9, 1983: Piper PA34200, Gulf Of Mexico, TX, Destroyed. Aircraft disappeared in vicinity of thunderstorm during student authorized crosscountry.

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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