# NTSB MKC87FA022: Piper PA-28-181, N4326P, Summersville, MO, November 23, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 22, 1986, 20:00 local (Nov 23, 1986, 02:00 UTC)
- Place: Summersville, MO
- Coordinates: 37.17033, -91.64952 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.1703&lon=-91.6495&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 25, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 34272
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC87FA022
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/34272/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC87FA022

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - physical impairment, pilot in command (cause)
  - impairment(drugs), pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PIC HAD FLOWN HIS ACFT FM SPRINGFIELD, MO TO OLATHE, KANSAS TO HAVE SOME REPAIR WORK ACCOMPLISHED AND WAS TO RETURN THAT SAME DAY. THE PIC NEVER RETURNED TO SPRINGFIELD. THE PIC HAD FLOWN TO SALEM, ILL WHERE WITNESSES STATED THEY OBSERVED THAT HE WAS CONFUSED AND DISORIENTED. THE PIC TRIED TO RETURN TO SPRINGFIELD, THE NEXT DAY, BUT STOPPED SHORT AT ROLLA, MISSOURI. AGAIN WITNESSES AT ROLLA STATED THAT THE PIC WAS CONFUSED AND DISORIENTED. THE PIC WAS ON THE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS TENORMIN AND LIBRIUM. BOTH OF THESE DRUGS HAVE WARNINGS THAT INCLUDE CONFUSION, DISORIENTATION AS SIDE EFFECTS. WEATHER IN THE CRASH SITE WHICH OCCURRED AT NIGHT, INCLUDED LOW CEILINGS AND FOG AND THE PIC WAS NOT INSTRUMENT RATED. THE FORECASTED WX FOR THE FLT TO SPRINGFIELD WAS VFR.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N4326P (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-8490018
- Airframe hours: 236
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: James Loren White
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 11, 1986, 9 hours before
- Departed: V1H, ROLLA, MO
- Destination: 3DW, SPRINGFIELD, MO

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 361 total, 112 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Lowest ceiling: 100 ft overcast

## 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 19861122059959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861122059959A), Nov 22, 1986: Piper PA28181, Summersville, MO, Destroyed. The aircraft struck the ground in night IFR conditions. VFR pilot taking beta blockers for hypertension.

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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