# NTSB SEA84FA065: Piper PA-28-181, N2868D, Lewiston, ID, March 3, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 2, 1984, 19:00 local (Mar 3, 1984, 03:00 UTC)
- Place: Lewiston, ID
- Coordinates: 46.160556, -116.919128 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.1606&lon=-116.9191&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 5 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 39796
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA84FA065
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39796/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA84FA065

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT CRASHED IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN WHILE THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT WAS ON A FLT IN MARGINAL WX CONDITIONS. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE ACFT HAD IMPACTED IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN, HIGH SPEED DESCENT. NO PREIMPACT/MECHANICAL PROBLEM WAS FOUND. ABOUT 31 MI EAST AT LEWISTON, ID, THE WX WAS 2500 FT BROKEN, 4000 FT OVERCAST, VISIBILITY 15 MI. THE ELEVATION OF THE WX STATION WAS 1438 FT & THE ELEVATION OF THE CRASH SITE WAS ABOUT 4800 FT. ABOUT 3 MI WEST AT CAMP WOOTEN STATE PARK (ELEVATION 2000 FT), RAIN BEGAN BEFORE DARK (1700 PST) & CONTINUED THRU THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, CHANGING TO LARGE HAIL & SNOW AT ABOUT 2000 PST. MOUNTAIN TOPS WERE OBSCURED IN CLOUDS THRU-OUT THIS TIME.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N2868D (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 287990507
- Airframe hours: 875
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Frank Brickey, doing business as Brickey Aviation
- Registered owner: Edward R. Skowyra
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 11, 1983, 10 hours before
- Departed: 60S, VANCOUVER, WA
- Destination: LWS, LEWISTON, ID
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 110 total, 4 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Night/dark
- Temperature: 37 °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 19840302006099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840302006099A), Mar 2, 1984: Piper PA28181, Lewiston, ID, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Near vertical impact and adverse weather in area indicates pilot lost control of aircraft. Spatial disorientation.

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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