# NTSB MKC83FA205: Piper PA-24-151, N7993C, Chesterfield, MO, August 29, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 29, 1983, 05:51 local (10:51 UTC)
- Place: Chesterfield, MO
- Coordinates: 38.649494, -90.530929 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6495&lon=-90.5309&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 33351
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC83FA205
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/33351/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC83FA205

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - refueling - not performed, pilot in command
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command
  - self-induced pressure, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - weather condition (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - haze/smoke (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - below approach/landing minimums (contributing factor)
  - missed approach - performed, pilot in command
  - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, landing
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing

## Analysis

THE PLT LANDED A LAWRENCEBURG, TN, ON THE EVENING OF 8/28/83. THUNDERSTORMS WERE REPORTED IN THE AREA AT THAT TIME. AT LAWRENCEBURG, FUEL WAS AVAILABLE DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS. AT 0203 THE NEXT MORNING, THE PLT CALLED THE MUSCLE SHOALS FSS & OBTAINED A WX BRIEFING & FILED AN IFR FLT PLAN. HE DEPARTED LAWRENCEBURG AT ABOUT 0250. DURING ARRIVAL TO LAND AT THE SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS ARPT, HE WAS ADVISE THAT THE WX WAS: SKY PARTIALLY OBSCURED, 1/8 MI VISIBILITY WITH FOG & HAZE, WIND CALM. ALSO, HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE OUTER MARKER LOCATOR WAS OUT OF SERVICE. THE PLT FLEW AN ILS APCH, BUT MADE A MISSED APCH. HE STARTED TO DIVERT TO WEISS ARPT (APRX 12 MI AWAY), BUT THE ENG BEGAN LOSING POWER FROM LOW FUEL. VECTORS WERE PROVIDED BACK TO THE SPIRIT OF ST LOUIS ARPT & THE PLT TRIED TO LAND AGAIN. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ENG QUIT RUNNING & THE ACFT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A NOSE DOWN, RIGHT WING LOW ATTITUDE. NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE WING TANKS OR ENG FUEL LINES. THE PLT WAS DUE TO BE AT WORK AT 0600 & HIS TRANSPORTATION WAS AT SPIRIT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7993C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7993C-1986-01-02), registration cancelled 1986-01-02, S/N 28-7615070 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-151
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-151](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-151) (registry code 7102805) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 287615070
- Airframe hours: 2942
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E3D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Plane Shack
- Registered owner: Alpha Aviation Ltd
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 18, 1983, 50 hours before
- Departed: 2M2, LAWRENCEBURG, TN
- Destination: SUS, CHESTERFIELD, MO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: SUS, Spirit Of St Louis, runway 7, 6,008 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 244 total, 20 in this make and model, 183 as pilot in command, 39 in the last 90 days, 32 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 250° at 4 knots
- Observed at: SUS

## 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 19830829044719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830829044719A), Aug 29, 1983: Piper PA28151, Chesterfield, MO, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Ran out of fuel on an IFR missed approach. Angle of impact indicates aircraft stalled prior to ground impact

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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