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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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June 15, 1982 · Piper PA-32R-301 · N8442T

Hartshorne, OK

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 15, 1982
Injury Outcomes
3 injuries (3 fatalities)
Location
Hartshorne, OK
Aircraft
Piper PA-32R-301
Tail Number
N8442T
Operator
Monco
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
FTW82FA223

While on a cross-country flight, the pilot was advised by radio of a severe thunderstorm and tornado watch along his route. At 1613 CDT, he was advised of a line of radar returns about 10 miles ahead. He replied that it "looks like a soft spot through there, just to the north of our position" and continued. At about 1621 CDT, the pilot declared an emergency. He reported that he had lost the engine (engine quit) and an aileron, and that the aircraft was down to 5000 ft. (The aircraft had been at 10,500 ft.) About 25 seconds later, he stated that the plane was hard to control, he was at 2500 ft and descending and he had lost his right wing. An examination of the wreckage indicated the plane had impacted in a flat spin. The empennage, right aileron and a portion of the outer wing panel (forward of the main spar) had separated and were not found.

Full Narrative

WHILE ON A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE PILOT WAS ADVISED BY RADIO OF A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AND TORNADO WATCH ALONG HIS ROUTE. AT 1613 CDT, HE WAS ADVISED OF A LINE OF RADAR RETURNS ABOUT 10 MILES AHEAD. HE REPLIED THAT IT "LOOKS LIKE A SOFT SPOT THROUGH THERE, JUST TO THE NORTH OF OUR POSITION" AND CONTINUED. AT ABOUT 1621 CDT, THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY. HE REPORTED THAT HE HAD LOST THE ENGINE (ENGINE QUIT) AND AN AILERON, AND THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS DOWN TO 5000 FT. (THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN AT 10,500 FT.) ABOUT 25 SECONDS LATER, HE STATED THAT THE PLANE WAS HARD TO CONTROL, HE WAS AT 2500 FT AND DESCENDING AND HE HAD LOST HIS RIGHT WING. AN EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE INDICATED THE PLANE HAD IMPACTED IN A FLAT SPIN. THE EMPENNAGE, RIGHT AILERON AND A PORTION OF THE OUTER WING PANEL (FORWARD OF THE MAIN SPAR) HAD SEPARATED AND WERE NOT FOUND.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:20 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-32R-301
Tail NumberN8442T
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorMonco
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · TIO-540-S1AD · Reciprocating · 300
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary3 injuries (3 fatalities)
Fatal3
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total3
Crew 1Age 43 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDaylight
Wind240° @ 8 kt
Visibility75 sm
Ceiling800 ft
Temperature / Dew Point17 C / 0 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time15:48

Appendix: Source Data