- Date
- September 5, 1982, 17:03 local (Sep 6, 1982, 00:03 UTC)
- Place
- 23 Mi Ene Toutl, WA
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 5 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N48915Piper PA-32-300
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 5, 1983
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 69633
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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.
Analysis
While on a sightseeing flt in the Mt. St.helens national volcanic monument area the acft crashed on the mud flats of the north fork of the toutle river in a relatively flat & open area. There were indications of a massive oil leak from the eng area in flight. Eng examination revealed a demounted no.3 cylinder. Hold down bolts were missing from one 1/2 inch stud & one 1/2 inch throughbolt, & from two 3/8 inch studs. There was no evidence of tensile overloading or stripping. One hold down nut of each size was located unattached & captured in the exterior eng baffling. The no. 3 conrod cap was missing. The eng had accrued 446 hrs since overhaul & 24 hrs since last inspection. The wreckage was found near a level straight road free of shoulder obstructions. A surviving pax stated a forced landing on a road would be made. A steep turn was made over the road & the acft "fell." The owner's manual states the plt should be at 1000FT AGL at the downwindposition for a normal approach to a power-off landing. The stall warning system was reported inoperative.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N48915
- Reported as
- Piper PA-32-300
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 32-7140059
- Airframe hours
- 2,545
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-540-K1A5, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Part 91
- Operator
- Packwood Aviation
- Registered owner
- Donald F. Morris
- Departed
- 55S · Packwood, WA
- Destination
- 55S · Packwood, WA
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 45
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 3,178 total · 8 in this make and model · 3,072 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 150° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 30 statute miles
- Temperature
- 185 °F