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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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May 17, 1983 · Piper PA-28R · N33066

Burns, WY

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 17, 1983
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Burns, WY
Aircraft
Piper PA-28R
Tail Number
N33066
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
DEN83FA114

BEFORE DEPARTING, THE PLT RECEIVED A WX BRIEFING & WAS ADVISED THAT VFR FLT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED THRU WESTERN NEBRASKA & EASTERN WYOMING. A FRONTAL WX SYS WAS FORCASTED TO PRODUCE THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY WITH ASSOCIATED TURBULENCE & RAIN. REPORTEDLY, THE PLT WAS ANXIOUS TO MAKE THE FLT SO HE COULD DELIVER NEEDED PARTS FOR A MACHINE THAT WAS TO BE USED IN A PUBLICLY ADVERTISED DEMONSTRATION. ADDITIONALLY, HE FELT HE COULD HELP HIS PARTNER COMPLETE THE PROJECT IN TIME FOR THE DEMONSTRATION. THE PLT ELECTED TO FILE A VFR FLT & THEN DEPARTED AS PLANNED. WHILE EN ROUTE, THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED WX & SUBSEQUENTLY CRASHED. JUST BEFORE IMPACT, THE ACFT WAS SEEN SPIRALING AFTER IT CAME OUT OF A LOW OVERCAST WITH NO RIGHT WING OR TAIL SECTION. AFTER THE PLANE CRASHED, A WITNESS SAW THE RIGHT WING 'DRIFTING DOWN.' AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED EVIDENCE THAT BOTH HORIZONTAL STABILATORS FAILED FROM POSITIVE AIRLOADS & THE RIGHT OUTBOARD WING SECTION FAILED FROM NEGATIVE AIRLOADS. NO EVIDENCE FOUND OF A MALFUNCTION/FAILURE BEFORE INFLT BREAKUP.

Full Narrative

BEFORE DEPARTING, THE PLT RECEIVED A WX BRIEFING & WAS ADVISED THAT VFR FLT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED THRU WESTERN NEBRASKA & EASTERN WYOMING. A FRONTAL WX SYS WAS FORCASTED TO PRODUCE THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY WITH ASSOCIATED TURBULENCE & RAIN. REPORTEDLY, THE PLT WAS ANXIOUS TO MAKE THE FLT SO HE COULD DELIVER NEEDED PARTS FOR A MACHINE THAT WAS TO BE USED IN A PUBLICLY ADVERTISED DEMONSTRATION. ADDITIONALLY, HE FELT HE COULD HELP HIS PARTNER COMPLETE THE PROJECT IN TIME FOR THE DEMONSTRATION. THE PLT ELECTED TO FILE A VFR FLT & THEN DEPARTED AS PLANNED. WHILE EN ROUTE, THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED WX & SUBSEQUENTLY CRASHED. JUST BEFORE IMPACT, THE ACFT WAS SEEN SPIRALING AFTER IT CAME OUT OF A LOW OVERCAST WITH NO RIGHT WING OR TAIL SECTION. AFTER THE PLANE CRASHED, A WITNESS SAW THE RIGHT WING 'DRIFTING DOWN.' AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED EVIDENCE THAT BOTH HORIZONTAL STABILATORS FAILED FROM POSITIVE AIRLOADS & THE RIGHT OUTBOARD WING SECTION FAILED FROM NEGATIVE AIRLOADS. NO EVIDENCE FOUND OF A MALFUNCTION/FAILURE BEFORE INFLT BREAKUP.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:45 MDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-28R
Tail NumberN33066
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-260-C1C · Reciprocating · 200
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 41 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDusk
Wind50° @ 15 kt
Visibility2 sm
CeilingOvercast 300 ft
Temperature / Dew Point41 C / 41 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time01:48
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data