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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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March 21, 1983 · Piper PA-32R-300 · N1057Q

Rochester, IL

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 21, 1983
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Rochester, IL
Aircraft
Piper PA-32R-300
Tail Number
N1057Q
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
CHI83FA148

THE ACFT EXPERIENCED AN IN-FLT BREAK-UP DURING DESCENT. THE PILOT HAD REPORTED ON THE RADIO TO KANSAS CITY ARTCC THAT HEWAS HAVING SEVERE CHEST PAINS AND SHORTNESS OF BREATH. RADAR CONTACT WITH THE PLANE WAS LOST AT 1425 CST. THE PILOT HAD REPORTED HE WAS MANUALLY FLYING THE ACFT. WITNESSES SAW THE ACFT COME OUT OF THE CLOUDS IN A SPIN. THEY SAW SEPARATE PIECES OF THE ACFT FALLING AFTER THE MAIN PORTIONS HAD DESCENDED. THEY HAD HEARD THE ENGINE SOUNDS WHICH MADE THE IMPRESSION THAT THE ACFT WAS DOING STUNTS. THE AUTOPSY REPORT STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF DEATH OF THE PILOT WAS ATHEROSCLEROTIC CORONARY ARTERY HEART DISEASE. THE PILOT HAD BEEN HOPITALIZED IN 10/92 DUE TO CHEST PAINS. HE WAS TESTED FOR CORONARY PROBLEMS. NO EVIDENCE OF CORONARY DISEASE WAS FOUND. HE WAS TREATED FOR HYPERTENSION BUT REPORTEDLY WOULD NOT TAKE HIS MEDICINE.

Full Narrative

THE ACFT EXPERIENCED AN IN-FLT BREAK-UP DURING DESCENT. THE PILOT HAD REPORTED ON THE RADIO TO KANSAS CITY ARTCC THAT HEWAS HAVING SEVERE CHEST PAINS AND SHORTNESS OF BREATH. RADAR CONTACT WITH THE PLANE WAS LOST AT 1425 CST. THE PILOT HAD REPORTED HE WAS MANUALLY FLYING THE ACFT. WITNESSES SAW THE ACFT COME OUT OF THE CLOUDS IN A SPIN. THEY SAW SEPARATE PIECES OF THE ACFT FALLING AFTER THE MAIN PORTIONS HAD DESCENDED. THEY HAD HEARD THE ENGINE SOUNDS WHICH MADE THE IMPRESSION THAT THE ACFT WAS DOING STUNTS. THE AUTOPSY REPORT STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF DEATH OF THE PILOT WAS ATHEROSCLEROTIC CORONARY ARTERY HEART DISEASE. THE PILOT HAD BEEN HOPITALIZED IN 10/92 DUE TO CHEST PAINS. HE WAS TESTED FOR CORONARY PROBLEMS. NO EVIDENCE OF CORONARY DISEASE WAS FOUND. HE WAS TREATED FOR HYPERTENSION BUT REPORTEDLY WOULD NOT TAKE HIS MEDICINE.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:28 CST
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-32R-300
Tail NumberN1057Q
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-540-K1G5D · Reciprocating · 300
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 53 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind310° @ 10 kt
Visibility4 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 1300 ft
Temperature / Dew Point27 C / 21 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time20:29

Appendix: Source Data