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NTSB Report
July 23, 1986 · Piper PA-28-181 · N6151J
Steinhatchee, FL
Overview
Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 23, 1986
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Location
Steinhatchee, FL
Aircraft
Piper PA-28-181
Tail Number
N6151J
Operator
Sundowners Flying Club
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
MIA86FA218
ON 7/23/86, ARTCC LOST RADAR & RADIO CONTACT WITH THE ACFT WHILE THE PLT WAS IN LVL FLT AT 6000 FT IN AN AREA OF LVL 3 & 4 THUNDERSTORMS (TSTMS). TWO DAYS LATER, THE LEFT WING PANEL & THE TIPS OF THE HORIZONTAL STABILATORS WERE FND IN THE VICINITY OF WHERE CONTACT WITH THE ACFT WAS LOST. ON 7/26/86, THE MAIN WRECKAGE WAS FND APRX .8 MI FURTHER TO THE SW. THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF UPWARD FAILURE OF THE WING & DOWNWARD FAILURE OF THE STABILATORS, BOTH FROM OVERLOAD. NO PRE-ACDNT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FND. THE PLT OF ANOTHER ACFT RPRTD THAT HE NOTED A LARGE 'WALL' OF CUMULUS CLOUDS IN THE ACDNT AREA; HE DIVERTED TO AVOID THE WX.
Full Narrative
ON 7/23/86, ARTCC LOST RADAR & RADIO CONTACT WITH THE ACFT WHILE THE PLT WAS IN LVL FLT AT 6000 FT IN AN AREA OF LVL 3 & 4 THUNDERSTORMS (TSTMS). TWO DAYS LATER, THE LEFT WING PANEL & THE TIPS OF THE HORIZONTAL STABILATORS WERE FND IN THE VICINITY OF WHERE CONTACT WITH THE ACFT WAS LOST. ON 7/26/86, THE MAIN WRECKAGE WAS FND APRX .8 MI FURTHER TO THE SW. THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF UPWARD FAILURE OF THE WING & DOWNWARD FAILURE OF THE STABILATORS, BOTH FROM OVERLOAD. NO PRE-ACDNT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FND. THE PLT OF ANOTHER ACFT RPRTD THAT HE NOTED A LARGE 'WALL' OF CUMULUS CLOUDS IN THE ACDNT AREA; HE DIVERTED TO AVOID THE WX.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:13 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftPiper PA-28-181
Tail NumberN6151J
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorSundowners Flying Club
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360-A4M · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4
People & Injuries
Injury Summary2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 50 · Third Class
Conditions
ConditionsUnknown
LightDaylight
Wind230° @ 4 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingNone
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time13:54
Weather SourceWFAC