# NTSB FTW87FA183: Piper PA-24-250, N7841P, Kokomo, IN, August 1, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 1, 1987, 10:53 local (15:53 UTC)
- Place: Kokomo, IN
- Coordinates: 40.530403, -86.169151 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5304&lon=-86.1692&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 27, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22264
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW87FA183
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22264/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW87FA183

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - hazardous weather advisory - disregarded, pilot in command (cause)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - normal
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - wing - failure,total (cause)
  - wing - overload (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PLTS PREFLT WX BRIEFING REVEALED MARGINAL VFR & IFR WX ALONG HIS PROPOSED ROUTE, WITH A PRECAUTION FOR THUNDERSTORMS. AN IFR FLT PLAN WAS FILED AND THE ACFT DEPARTED. LATER DURING FLT THE PLT WAS RADIOED INFO ABOUT A CONVECTIVE SIGMET THAT CONTAINED A LINE OF T-STORMS REACHING 45000 FT ACROSS HIS ROUTE. THE PLT STATED THAT HE WANTED TO CONTINUE ON ROUTE & WOULD CHECK BACK LATER. ABOUT 20 MIN LATER THE PLT WAS WARNED THAT HE WAS ABOUT TO ENTER HEAVY PRECIP AND WAS OFFERED AN ESCAPE ROUTE. HIS LAST TRANSMISSION WAS 'OK FOUR ONE POP.' A FEW MINUTES LATER HIS TRANSPONDER CODE WAS LOST ON RADAR. THE ACFT WAS AT 9000 FT MSL AND EXPERIENCED INFLT SEPARATION OF BOTH WINGS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N7841P (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-250
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24-3063
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-A1D5 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Leonard W. Johnson, Jr.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 14, 1986
- Departed: BNA, NASHVILLE, TN
- Destination: EKM, ELKHART, IN
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 4,200 total, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 8 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: GUS, 15 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 19870801040289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870801040289A), Aug 1, 1987: Piper PA24250, Kokomo, IN, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Aircraft broke up inflight while being vectored away from thunderstorms. Crashed nearly vertical nose down in field

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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