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NTSB Report
May 21, 1987 · Piper PA-28R-180 · N4982J
Sioux City, IA
Overview
Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 21, 1987
Injury Outcomes
3 injuries (3 fatalities)
Location
Sioux City, IA
Aircraft
Piper PA-28R-180
Tail Number
N4982J
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
MKC87FA106
THE PIC HAD TELEPHONED THE FSS AT HURON, S.D. FOR ENR WX TO SIOUX CITY, IA, FM SIOUX FALLS, S.D., LATE THE EVENING OF MAY 20. THE FCST INDICATED IFR FLT COND'S WITH INTERMITTENT TRSMS ALONG THE RTE THROUGHOUT THE FCST PERIOD. THE PIC DPTD SIOUX FALLS, S.D. AT AN UNK TIME, AND ARR AT SIOUX CITY, IA TO RENDEZVOUS WITH HIS PAX. A SEARCH WAS CONDUCTED OF OFFICIAL COMMUNICATION RECORDS TO ASCERTAIN, IF THE PIC HAD SOUGHT ADD'L WX OBS BEFORE HIS DEPARTURE FM SIOUX CITY, IA. THE SEARCH LOCATED NO SUCH COMMUNICATIONS. WX COND'S AROUND THE TIME OF THE ACC WERE CONSIDERED IMC WITH LT RAIN. THE PIC WAS NOT INSTRUMENT RATED OR EXPERIENCED IN IFR FLT, AND THE DEPARTURE WAS AT NIGHT. THE ACFT IMPACTED LEVEL TERRAIN ABOUT 3 MI NORTHEAST OF THE ARPT IN AN OPEN FLD NEAR AN AREA OF BLUFFS. EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE FAILED TO DISCLOSE ANY PRE-IMPACT MALF OF ENG OR FLT CONTROLS.
Full Narrative
THE PIC HAD TELEPHONED THE FSS AT HURON, S.D. FOR ENR WX TO SIOUX CITY, IA, FM SIOUX FALLS, S.D., LATE THE EVENING OF MAY 20. THE FCST INDICATED IFR FLT COND'S WITH INTERMITTENT TRSMS ALONG THE RTE THROUGHOUT THE FCST PERIOD. THE PIC DPTD SIOUX FALLS, S.D. AT AN UNK TIME, AND ARR AT SIOUX CITY, IA TO RENDEZVOUS WITH HIS PAX. A SEARCH WAS CONDUCTED OF OFFICIAL COMMUNICATION RECORDS TO ASCERTAIN, IF THE PIC HAD SOUGHT ADD'L WX OBS BEFORE HIS DEPARTURE FM SIOUX CITY, IA. THE SEARCH LOCATED NO SUCH COMMUNICATIONS. WX COND'S AROUND THE TIME OF THE ACC WERE CONSIDERED IMC WITH LT RAIN. THE PIC WAS NOT INSTRUMENT RATED OR EXPERIENCED IN IFR FLT, AND THE DEPARTURE WAS AT NIGHT. THE ACFT IMPACTED LEVEL TERRAIN ABOUT 3 MI NORTHEAST OF THE ARPT IN AN OPEN FLD NEAR AN AREA OF BLUFFS. EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE FAILED TO DISCLOSE ANY PRE-IMPACT MALF OF ENG OR FLT CONTROLS.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time02:38 CDT
Nearest Airport3nm NNE
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftPiper PA-28R-180
Tail NumberN4982J
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · I0360-B1E · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4
People & Injuries
Injury Summary3 injuries (3 fatalities)
Fatal3
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total3
Crew 1Age 36 · Third Class
Conditions
ConditionsIMC
LightDark Night
Wind240° @ 6 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingOvercast 800 ft
Temperature / Dew Point66 F / 64 F
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time07:50
Weather SourceWFAC