# NTSB SEA83FA118: Piper PA28RT-201T, N8402P, Gov'T Camp, OR, June 8, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 7, 1983, 19:59 local (Jun 8, 1983, 02:59 UTC)
- Place: Gov'T Camp, OR
- Coordinates: 45.270618, -121.709472 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.2706&lon=-121.7095&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 39614
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA83FA118
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39614/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA83FA118

## 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 - turbulence(thunderstorms) (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (cause)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - uncontrolled
  - wing,spar - failure,total (contributing factor)
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

WX CONDITIONS ALONG THE FLT ROUTE INDICATED CEILINGS OF 25,000 FT & UNRESTRICTED VISIBILITY EXCEPT FOR THE AREA SOUTH & WEST OF MOUNT HOOD. MOUNT HOOD, ELEVATION 11,239 FT MSL, ON THE SW SIDE OF GOVERNMENT CAMP & CLEAR LAKE (ACCIDENT SITE),WAS COVERED BY CLOUDS. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, A CLASSIC TOWERING CUMULONIMBUS EXISTED OVER MOUNT HOOD. AT CLEAR LAKE, ABOUT 15 MI SOUTH OF MOUNT HOOD, IT WAS RAINING WITH HAIL & LIGHTNING, WITH A CEILING ESTIMATED AT ABOUT 300 FT WITNESSES AT CLEAR LAKE REPORTED THE STORM WAS IN PROGRESS FOR SOME TIME BEFORE THE ACFT 'FELL OUT OF THE CLOUDS' INTO THE LAKE. MOST OF THE RECOVERED WRECKAGE WAS FOUND IN CLEAR LAKE BY SCUBA DIVERS IN AN AREA 3600 FT BY 800 FT. WRECKAGE DISTRIBUTION INDICATED GENERAL DISINTEGRATION INFLIGHT PRIOR TO IMPACT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8402P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8402P-2013-03-25), registration cancelled 2013-03-25, S/N 28R-8131159, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28RT-201T (PA28RT-201)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28RT-201T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28rt-201t) (registry code 7102817) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming T0-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-t0-360-series) (registry code 41528, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28R-8131159
- Airframe hours: 720
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-360-FB 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: H.F. Weston S.C. Weston
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 2, 1983, 15 hours before
- Departed: SEA, SEATTLE, WA
- Destination: SEA, JACKSON, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 167 total, 84 in this make and model, 108 as pilot in command, 167 in the last 90 days, 61 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 20 knots, gusting 40
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 300 ft overcast
- Temperature: 61 °F

## 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 19830607022209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830607022209A), Jun 7, 1983: Piper PA28R201T, Government Camp, OR, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Continued VFR flight into a thunderstorm. Aircraft broke up and fell into a lake. Was advised of thunderstorm area.

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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