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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

August 18, 1983 · Piper PA-28-161 · N8193Q

El Paso, TX

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 18, 1983
Injury Outcomes
4 injuries (4 fatalities)
Location
El Paso, TX
Aircraft
Piper PA-28-161
Tail Number
N8193Q
Operator
Aeronautics
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
FTW83FA384

THE PLT HAD POSTPONED THE FLT DUE TO WX CONDITIONS. DURING A FLT FROM DEMING, NM TO WACO, TX, THE ACFT SUBSEQUENTLY CRASHED WITHIN THE BOUNDRIES OF A PRIVATE ARPT, NORTHWEST OF EL PASO, TX. IMPACT OCCURRED IN A STEEP LEFT BANK, NOSE LOW ATTITUDE. THE DEGREE OF DISINTEGRATION OF THE WRECKAGE INDICATED THE ACFT WAS TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED DURING IMPACT. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. THE ACCIDENT HAD OCCURRED DURING THE LAST STAGES OF HURRICANE ALICA. ABOUT 12 MI AWAY, THE 1850 MDT WX AT EL PASO WAS, IN PART: CLEAR, VISIBILITY 70 MI, WIND 250 DEG AT 4 KTS. HOWEVER, CUMULONIMBUS BUILDUPS WERE REPORTED IN ALL QUADRANTS & A UH-1 PLT REPORTED RAINSHOWERS & MODERATE TURBULENCE IN THE VICINITY OF THE CRASH SITE. A TOXICOLOGICAL CHECK OF THE PLT'S MUSCLE TISSUE FLUID SHOWED A CONCENTRATION OF 127MG% (.127%) ALCOHOL. THE PLT HAD VISION IN ONLY 1 EYE & WAS REQUIRED TO PERFORM A TEST OF DEMONSTRATED ABILITY ON EACH RENEWAL OF HIS MED CERT, BUT HE HAD FAILED TO DO SO; THEREFORE, HIS MED CERT WAS INVALID.

Full Narrative

THE PLT HAD POSTPONED THE FLT DUE TO WX CONDITIONS. DURING A FLT FROM DEMING, NM TO WACO, TX, THE ACFT SUBSEQUENTLY CRASHED WITHIN THE BOUNDRIES OF A PRIVATE ARPT, NORTHWEST OF EL PASO, TX. IMPACT OCCURRED IN A STEEP LEFT BANK, NOSE LOW ATTITUDE. THE DEGREE OF DISINTEGRATION OF THE WRECKAGE INDICATED THE ACFT WAS TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED DURING IMPACT. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. THE ACCIDENT HAD OCCURRED DURING THE LAST STAGES OF HURRICANE ALICA. ABOUT 12 MI AWAY, THE 1850 MDT WX AT EL PASO WAS, IN PART: CLEAR, VISIBILITY 70 MI, WIND 250 DEG AT 4 KTS. HOWEVER, CUMULONIMBUS BUILDUPS WERE REPORTED IN ALL QUADRANTS & A UH-1 PLT REPORTED RAINSHOWERS & MODERATE TURBULENCE IN THE VICINITY OF THE CRASH SITE. A TOXICOLOGICAL CHECK OF THE PLT'S MUSCLE TISSUE FLUID SHOWED A CONCENTRATION OF 127MG% (.127%) ALCOHOL. THE PLT HAD VISION IN ONLY 1 EYE & WAS REQUIRED TO PERFORM A TEST OF DEMONSTRATED ABILITY ON EACH RENEWAL OF HIS MED CERT, BUT HE HAD FAILED TO DO SO; THEREFORE, HIS MED CERT WAS INVALID.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:00 MDT
Nearest AirportSKYPORT (0nm N)
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-28-161
Tail NumberN8193Q
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorAeronautics
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-D3G · Reciprocating · 160
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary4 injuries (4 fatalities)
Fatal4
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total4
Crew 1Age 41 · Unknown

Conditions

ConditionsUnknown
LightDusk
WindCalm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point57
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time18:50

Appendix: Source Data