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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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October 23, 1985 · Piper PA-34-220T · N8132L

Hamilton, AL

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 23, 1985
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Hamilton, AL
Aircraft
Piper PA-34-220T
Tail Number
N8132L
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
ATL86FA010

AT 1450 CDT, WHILE THE PLT WAS CRUISING AT 11,000', ARTCC BROADCAST INFO CONCERNING SIGMET 17C, WARNING PLTS OF THUNDER-STORMS WITH TOPS TO FL 450. AT 1613, RADAR DATA SHOWED THE ACFT AT 11,300'. WHEN ASKED ABOUT HIS ALT, THE PLT REPLIED HE WAS IN A CELL & WOULD BE RETURNING TO HIS ALT OF 11,000'. HE DID NOT REQUEST ASSISTANCE. SHORTLY AFTER THAT, RADAR DATA SHOWED THE ACFT HAD LOST 1000', THEN THE DISPLAY WENT INTO A COAST TRACK. LATER, THE WRECKAGE WAS FND SCATTERED OVER AN AREA APRX 1 MI LONG & 1/4 MI WIDE. THE WINGS & STABILATORS HAD SEPARATED DURING AN IN-FLT BREAKUP. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THE WINGS HAD FAILED FROM POSITIVE OVERLOADS. NO PRE-ACDNT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FND. THE PLT'S BODY WAS FND AT 0737 CDT ON 10/24/85. A TOXICOLOGY CHECK SHOWED AN ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.031%, BUT THE AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL DUE TO PUTREFACTION WAS NOT VERIFIED. A WX SUMMARY SHOWED THE ACFT WAS IN THE VICINITY OF A VERY STRONG WX ECHO WITH MODERATE TO SEVERE TURBULENCE & UP/DOWNDRAFTS IN THE THUNDERSTORM BELOW 20,000'.

Full Narrative

AT 1450 CDT, WHILE THE PLT WAS CRUISING AT 11,000', ARTCC BROADCAST INFO CONCERNING SIGMET 17C, WARNING PLTS OF THUNDER-STORMS WITH TOPS TO FL 450. AT 1613, RADAR DATA SHOWED THE ACFT AT 11,300'. WHEN ASKED ABOUT HIS ALT, THE PLT REPLIED HE WAS IN A CELL & WOULD BE RETURNING TO HIS ALT OF 11,000'. HE DID NOT REQUEST ASSISTANCE. SHORTLY AFTER THAT, RADAR DATA SHOWED THE ACFT HAD LOST 1000', THEN THE DISPLAY WENT INTO A COAST TRACK. LATER, THE WRECKAGE WAS FND SCATTERED OVER AN AREA APRX 1 MI LONG & 1/4 MI WIDE. THE WINGS & STABILATORS HAD SEPARATED DURING AN IN-FLT BREAKUP. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THE WINGS HAD FAILED FROM POSITIVE OVERLOADS. NO PRE-ACDNT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FND. THE PLT'S BODY WAS FND AT 0737 CDT ON 10/24/85. A TOXICOLOGY CHECK SHOWED AN ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.031%, BUT THE AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL DUE TO PUTREFACTION WAS NOT VERIFIED. A WX SUMMARY SHOWED THE ACFT WAS IN THE VICINITY OF A VERY STRONG WX ECHO WITH MODERATE TO SEVERE TURBULENCE & UP/DOWNDRAFTS IN THE THUNDERSTORM BELOW 20,000'.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:15 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm W
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-34-220T
Tail NumberN8132L
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · TSIO-360-KB · Reciprocating · 220
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 47 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsUnknown
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility5 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0

Appendix: Source Data