MKC83FA060

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-28R-201T · Salem, MO · January 31, 1983

Accident · FatalField investigationFinal report
Date
January 31, 1983, 10:20 local (16:20 UTC)
Place
Salem, MO
Injuries
1 fatal
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
N99SJPiper PA-28R-201T
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19830131001829A
Case key
33313

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

In flight encounter with weatherClimb - to cruise
Weather condition - haze/smokeFactor
Weather condition - fogFactor
Flight into known adverse weather - initiatedPilot in commandCause
Loss of control - in flightClimb - to cruise
Aircraft handling - uncontrolledPilot in commandCause
Spatial disorientationPilot in commandCause
Lack of total instrument timePilot in commandCause
Airframe/component/system failure/malfunctionDescent - uncontrolled
Wing,spar - overloadFactor
Design stress limits of aircraft - exceededPilot in commandCause
Wing,spar - failure,totalFactor
Wing,spar - separationFactor
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled

Analysis

During the 0910 telephone wx briefing by the st. louis fss, the plt mentioned that there was ground fog in the Salem area. At about 1010 the plt departed from rwy 16, made a left turn & crossed the arpt heading north. A witness who drovethe plt to the arpt stated he watched the acft until it was obscured by clouds as it climbed. Another witness, who was located about 1/2 mi east of the approach end of rwy 16, stated he saw the acft flying north before it was obscured by a nearby building. He then heard the eng rev up, then a crash. He reported that the sky was overcast & ground visibilitywas about a mile. Wreckage examination disclosed that the left outer wing separated at the inboard edge of the aileron. The empennage displayed evidence of left wing impact forward of the vertical stabilizer. The spars & wing skin displayed evidence of overload failure. The 0958 wx at vichy,MO, located 34 NM nw of Salem, was 2 mi in fog & haze.

Aircraft

Registration
N99SJ
Reported as
Piper PA-28R-201T (PA-28R-201)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
28R7803356
Engine
Continental TSIO-360-FB, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Fire
On-Ground
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Robert K. Yocum
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · November 18, 1983
Destination
3 WE · St. Louis, MO
Airport
K33 · Salem Memorial, runway 16, 2,650 × 30 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
30
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Toxicology
Performed
Flight hours
150 total · 20 in this make and model

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
70° at 13 knots
Visibility
2 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
20,000 ft broken
Temperature
34 °F, dew point 28 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
VIH, 30 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.