# NTSB SEA84FA030: Piper PA-34-220T, N8362L, Pocatello, ID, December 30, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 30, 1983, 12:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Pocatello, ID
- Coordinates: 42.900264, -112.39083 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9003&lon=-112.3908&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 39785
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA84FA030
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39785/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA84FA030

## Analysis

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

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, missed approach (ifr)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor)

## Aircraft

- Registration: N8362L (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34-220T
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 34-8133053
- Airframe hours: 492
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-360-KB 220 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Interwest Aviation Corporation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 9, 1983, 40 hours before
- Departed: SLC, SALT LAKE CITY, UT
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: PIH, Pocatello Muni, runway 21, 9,056 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,570 total, 27 in this make and model, 1,402 as pilot in command, 137 in the last 90 days, 54 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 40° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 700 ft broken
- Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PIH, 2 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 19831230064509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831230064509A), Dec 30, 1983: Piper PA34220T, Pocatello, ID, Destroyed. Aircraft crashed while executing missed approach after ILS approach to runway 21.

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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