# NTSB SEA90FA166: Piper PA-24-250, N8103P, Salem, OR, August 27, 1990 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: August 26, 1990, 19:30 local (Aug 27, 1990, 02:30 UTC) - Place: Salem, OR - Coordinates: 44.840843, -123.080902 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8408&lon=-123.0809&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed, report May 3, 1993 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 41124 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA90FA166 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41124/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA90FA166 ## Probable cause THE PILOT ALLOWED THE DESIGN STRESS LIMITS OF THE AIRCRAFT TO BE EXCEEDED. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT CONCERNED INADVERTENT FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, climb - to cruise - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor) - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor) - weather condition - rain (contributing factor) - flight into known adverse weather - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, unknown - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause) - wing - overload - wing - separation - horizontal stabilizer surface - overload - horizontal stabilizer surface - separation - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis BEFORE TAKEOFF, THE PLT WAS ADZD OF A CURRENT AIRMET FOR THE AREA WITH PRECAUTIONS FOR OCNL MDT TURBC BELOW 14,000' & MTN OBSCN. OCNL MDT RIME OR MIXED ICING WAS FORECAST FOR THE AREA AS WELL AS RAIN SHOWER ACTIVITY. WHEN THE PLT OPENED A VFR FLT PLAN AFTER TAKEOFF, HE WAS REMINDED OF THE PRECAUTIONS & AIRMET FOR TURBC & ICING. AS THE FLT CONTD, THE PLT ADZD HE WOULD BE CLIMBING TO 11,500' MSL. A FEW MIN LATER, HE ADZD HE WOULD DEVIATE FROM COURSE TO 'REMAIN VFR ON THESE CLOUDS.' THERE WAS NO FURTHER COM WITH THE ACFT. WITNESSES ON THE GND HEARD A LOUD BANG, THEN SAW THE ACFT DSCND BELOW THE CLOUD LAYER IN A SPIRAL WITH PIECES SEPG. WRECKAGE WAS SCATTERED OVER A 1/2 AREA. AN EXAM REVEALED EVIDENCE THAT BOTH OUTBOARD SECTIONS OF THE WINGS SEPD UPWARD & REARWARD, WHILE THE HORIZONTAL STABILATOR SEPD DOWNWARD IN FLT. THE INVESTIGATION DID NOT VERIFY WHICH MODE OF FLT THE ACFT WAS IN, WHEN THE IN-FLT BREAKUP OCCURRED. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8103P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8103P-1991-09-11), registration cancelled 1991-09-11, S/N 243353 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-250 - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-3353 - Airframe hours: 6870 - Engines: LYCOMING O-540-A1D5 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Darrow G. Hudson - Last inspection: Annual, April 25, 1990, 31 hours before - Departed: PDX, PORTLAND, OR - Destination: 017, GRASS VALLEY, CA - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,072 total, 62 in this make and model, 968 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 3 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: SLE, 4 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 19900826036279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900826036279A), Aug 26, 1990: Piper PA24250, Salem, OR, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Indicates wings and tail separated in flight in severe turbulence. Rain shower thunderstorm area. Weather SIGMET issu ## Other investigations on N8103P (2) 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. - [NTSB CHI82DA240](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI82DA240), Jul 7, 1982: Piper PA-24-250 (N8103P), Lafayette, IN, substantial damage - [NTSB UNK65X1142](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK65X1142), Dec 26, 1964: Piper PA24 (N8103P), Wichita Falls, TX, substantial damage 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.