# NTSB MIA83FA082: Piper PA-32-301, N28216, Brooksville, FL, February 28, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 27, 1983, 23:17 local (Feb 28, 1983, 04:17 UTC)
- Place: Brooksville, FL
- Location: 28.5166° N, 82.4047° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Brooksville, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.5166&lon=-82.4047&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 30769
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA83FA082
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30769/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA83FA082

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, descent - normal
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
  - in-flight weather advisories - not used, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - windshear (contributing factor)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - normal
  - wing - separation (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE ACFT DISAPPEARED FROM RADAR DURING DESCENT FROM 4000 FT MSL TO 2000 FT MSL. INVESTIGATION REVEALED SIGMET BRAVO 3 IN EFFECT IN THE AREA OF THE ACCIDENT AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. THE TRANSCRIPT OF RADIO COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE FLT SHOWS NO IN-FLT WEATHER BRIEFINGS. THE SIGMET BRAVO 3 WARNED THAT THERE WAS MODERATE TO SEVERE TURBULENCE IN THE AREA DUE TO STRONG LOW LEVEL WINDS; A LOW LEVEL WINDSHEAR POTENTIAL EXISTED BELOW 4000 FT MSL. THE PLT HAD BEEN CLEARED TO DESCEND TO 2000 FT MSL AT 2312. THE PLT ACKNOWLEDGED THE TRANSMISSION. AT 2312+41 THE PLT WAS ADVISED TO CHANGE RADIOFREQUENCIES AND THE PLT ACKNOWLEDGED. AT 2313 THE APPROACH CONTROLLER LOST THE FLTS RADAR CONTACT AND CALLED THE FLT. THERE WERE NO FURTHER RADIO CONTACT WITH THE FLT. AT 2318 RESIDENTS IN THE AREA OF BROOKSVILLE ADVISED THE SHERIFF THAT A SMALL ACFT HAD CRASHED. THE PA-32-301 PLTS HANDBOOK SHOWS A VA SPEED OF 110 KTS AS THE LIMITATION FOR TURBULENT AIR PENETRATION. THE ATC RADAR ITAP READOUT SHOWS THE ACFT SPEED BEFORE RADAD CONTACT WAS LOST AT ABOUT 168 KTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N28216 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-301
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 328006
- Airframe hours: 1850
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1G5D 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Capital Aviation Services
- Registered owner: George F. Slade
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, February 8, 1983, 69 hours before
- Departed: TLH, TALLAHASSEE, FL
- Destination: LAL, LAKELAND, FL
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 23; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,934 total, 1,300 in this make and model, 2,223 as pilot in command, 360 in the last 90 days, 90 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 110° at 10 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: TPA, 35 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 19830227006789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830227006789A), Feb 27, 1983: Piper PA32301, Brooksville, FL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Severe forecast turbulence and windshear in area. Airframe failed inflight due to excessive overloads.

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.