SEA82AA155

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-32-300 · 23 Mi Ene Toutl, WA · September 6, 1982

Accident · FatalFinal report
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.

Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malfCruise - normal
Engine assembly,cylinder - improperCause
Engine assembly,cylinder - looseCause
Engine assembly,cylinder - separationCause
Maintenance,overhaul - improperOther maintenance personnelCause
Forced landingManeuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
Loss of control - in flightManeuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
Planned approach - poorPilot in commandFactor
Emergency procedure - not followedPilot in commandFactor
Descent - misjudgedPilot in commandCause
Warning system(other) - inoperativeFactor
Airspeed - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Stall - inadvertentPilot in command
In flight collision with terrain/waterManeuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)

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