# NTSB SEA83FA127: Piper PA-24-250, N47RR, Stehekin, WA, June 16, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 16, 1983, 12:45 local (19:45 UTC)
- Place: Stehekin, WA
- Coordinates: 48.339012, -120.699493 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.3390&lon=-120.6995&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal, 2 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 39616
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA83FA127
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39616/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA83FA127

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, go-around (vfr)
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - aborted landing - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - uphill (contributing factor)
  - go-around - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - proper climb rate - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT CRASHED INTO TREES AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RWY DURING A GO-AROUND. THE PILOT HAD ATTEMPTED A LANDING ON RWY34 WITH FULL FLAPS. POWER WAS CUT ON FINAL OVER THE TREES AT 75 MPH. WHEN TOUCHDOWN HAD NOT BEEN ACCOMPLISHED ABOUT HALFWAY DOWN THE RWY THE PILOT DECIDED TO GO AROUND. THE WINDS WERE LIGHT AND VARIABLE. FULL THROTTLE WAS ADDED BUT THE ACFTFAILED TO CLEAR THE TREES AND CRASHED. ALL OCCUPANTS WERE EJECTED FROM THE ACFT DURING THE CRASH. THE FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED THEIR SURVIVAL ENHANCED BY THE USE OF SEAT BELTS. THE REAR SEAT PASSENGERS SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES. THEIR SEAT BELTS WERE NOT FASTENED. THE ACFT WAS DESTROYED, THE FUSELAGE SPLIT AND SEPARATED INTO TWO PARTS WHICH ALLOWED OCCUPANT EJECTION. THE PILOT STATED IN A TELEPHONE INTERVIEW THAT HE EXPERIENCED NO POWERPLANT OR CONTROL MALFUNCTIONS BUT THAT THE ACFT SEEMED TO 'MUSH' AFTER INITIAL ACCELERATION AND CLIMB.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N47RR (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-250
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24-3283
- Airframe hours: 2818
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-A1D5 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Calvin A Merriman, doing business as Diamond Path, Incorporated
- Registered owner: Diamond Path, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 27, 1982, 186 hours before
- Departed: 2S0, TWISP, WA
- Airport: 18WA, Stehekin State, runway 34, 2,700 × 100 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,833 total, 285 in this make and model, 2,750 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: EAT, 60 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19830616025849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830616025849A), Jun 16, 1983: Piper PA24250, Stehekin, WA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Too long on downwind landing. Struck trees trying to go around. Pilot misjudgment. Rear seat belts not used.

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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