# NTSB MKC82FA161: Piper PA-28R-200, N56373, Mediapolis, IA, August 30, 1982 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: August 29, 1982, 21:59 local (Aug 30, 1982, 02:59 UTC) - Place: Mediapolis, IA - Coordinates: 41.000968, -91.159385 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0010&lon=-91.1594&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 4 fatal - Status: Completed, report August 29, 1983 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 71647 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC82FA161 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71647/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC82FA161 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - weather condition - rain (contributing factor) - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor) - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - flight controls - improper use of, pilot in command (cause) - , pilot in command (cause) - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause) - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - uncontrolled - flight control,stabilator - overload - flight control,stabilator - failure,total - flight control,stabilator - separation - wing - overload - wing - failure,partial - wing - separation - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis DURING THE 1725 CDT WX BRIEFING THE PLT WAS INFORMED THAT THE KANSAS CITY AREA WOULD BE 1600 FT BROKEN, OCCASSIONAL 800 FT BROKEN, 3/4 MI VISIBILITY WITH THUNDERSTORMS & MODERATE RAIN WITH STRONG SURFACE WINDS ABOUT 35K. THE FORECAST WAS VALID TO 2200 CDT. THE PLT INDICATED HE DID NOT NEED ANY ENROUTE FORECASTS. THE BRIEFER STATED TO THE PLT THAT RADARWAS SHOWING AN AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS & RAIN SHOWERS EXTENDING FROM 70 MI NW OF KANSAS CITY DOWN TO 60 MI NORTH OF KANSAS CITY & FROM THERE ON UP TO FT.DODGE, THE AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS MOVING NE AT 30K. THE PLT DEPARTED OLATHE, KS AT 2000 CDT. A WITNESS HEARD THE SOUNDS OF AN ACFT ENG DECREASING, INCREASING & THEN SILENCE. A WITNESS WHO HEARD THE ACFT PASS BY JUST BEFORE IMPACT STATED THAT THE WX AT THE TIME WAS MODERATE RAIN, APPROXIMATE 1 MI VISIBILITY, & INTERMITTENT LIGHTNING & THUNDER. PORTIONS OF EACH WING & THE HORIZONTAL TAIL SECTION WERE LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 3/8 MI SOUTH OF THE MAIN WRECKAGE. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N56373](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N56373-1982-11-19), registration cancelled 1982-11-19, S/N 28R-7335426 (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) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-7335426 - Airframe hours: 1763 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-C1C 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Flying Country Club, Inc. - Registered owner: Flying Country Club, Inc. - Departed: OJC, OLATHE, KS - Destination: MLI, MOLINE, IL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 170 total, 25 in this make and model, 127 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark - Wind: 300° at 5 knots - Visibility: 1 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 500 ft overcast - Temperature: 158 °F ## 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 19820829042619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820829042619A), Aug 29, 1982: Piper PA28R200, Mediapolis, IA, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Aircraft crashed during thunderstorm. Wreckage was not located in one spot indicating inflight breakup. ## Other investigations on N56373 (2) 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. - [NTSB CHI79DA074](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI79DA074), Sep 9, 1979: Piper PA-28R (N56373), Moline, IL, substantial damage - [NTSB FTW78FRD16](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW78FRD16), Jan 28, 1978: Piper PA-28R (N56373), Plaquemine, LA, substantial damage 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.