MKC84FA131

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-28-180 · Sheldon, IA · May 4, 1984

Accident · FatalField investigationFinal report
Date
May 4, 1984, 10:51 local (15:51 UTC)
Place
Sheldon, IA
Injuries
2 fatal
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
N3761RPiper PA-28-180
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19840504015719A
Case key
33526

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 weatherCruise - normal
Preflight planning/preparation - inadequatePilot in commandFactor
Hazardous weather advisory - issuedAtc personnel(fss)
Weather condition - cloudsFactor
Weather condition - low ceilingFactor
Weather condition - rainFactor
Vfr flight into imc - continuedPilot in commandCause
Lack of total instrument timePilot in commandCause
Loss of control - in flightCruise
Aircraft handling - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Spatial disorientationPilot in commandCause
Airframe/component/system failure/malfunctionDescent - uncontrolled
Wing - overload
Design stress limits of aircraft - exceededPilot in commandCause
Wing - separation
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled

Analysis

At about 1015 CDT, while en route, the plt radioed a fss & requested the Kansas city wx. VMC conditions were reported at Kansas city, but the plt was informed of an AIRMET, which provide a caution of low ceilings & reduce visibilities across his route of flt. The plt acknowledged the report & continued his flt toward Kansas city. At about 1051 CDT, ground witnesses heard a snap or boom noise which was followed by a high pitch sound of the acft's eng. They then observed the acft spin or roll out of the overcast sky at an estimated 1500 to 2000 ft AGL. They said the acft continued to spin or roll until impacting the ground. The witnesses also reported light rain was falling. An exam of the wreckage revealed that both outer wing panels had separated in flt. They were located 3116 & 2376 ft from the main wreckage. No preimpact part failure or malfunction was found. The non-instrument rated plt had only 5 hrs of simulated instrument time. There was no evidence of a preflt wx briefing.

Aircraft

Registration
N3761R
Reported as
Piper PA-28-180
Category
Airplane
Serial number
28-5816
Airframe hours
3,325
Engine
Lycoming O-360-A3A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Robert D. Stamp
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · March 10, 1984 · 3 hours before
Departed
DXX · Madison, MN
Destination
MKC · Kansas City, MO

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
53
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Toxicology
Performed
Flight hours
637 total · 201 in this make and model · 574 as pilot in command

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
200° at 5 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Temperature
52 °F, dew point 43 °F
Altimeter
29.00 inHg
Observed at
SPW, 31 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.