THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED ABOUT 8 MI EAST OF THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT AFTER THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT TOOK OFF ON A DARK NIGHT WITH FOG AND A LOW CEILING. THE WEATHER AT THE NEAREST REPORTING STATION WAS IN PART: 600 FT OVERCAST, VISIBILITY 6 MI WITH FOG. ANOTHER PILOT ESTIMATED THAT THE CEILING WAS 800 TO 1000 FT AND THE VISIBILITY WAS 3 TO 4 MI. AN EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE LEFT WING AND STABILATOR HAD SEPARATED IN FLIGHT. A WITNESS NEAR THE ACCIDENT SITE HEARD WHAT SOUNDED TO HIM LIKE A SMALL PLANE PERFORMING AEROBATICS. HE REPORTED THAT THESE SOUNDS WERE FOLLOWED BY A "BACKFIRE", THEN A THUD.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:

Contributing Factors

LIGHT CONDITION..DARK NIGHT

Contributing Factors

WEATHER CONDITION..LOW CEILING

Contributing Factors

WEATHER CONDITION..FOG

Contributing Factors

LACK OF TOTAL INSTRUMENT TIME..PILOT IN COMMAND

Contributing Factors

WING..OVERLOAD

Contributing Factors

WING..SEPARATION

Contributing Factors

FLIGHT CONTROL,STABILATOR..OVERLOAD

Contributing Factors

FLIGHT CONTROL,STABILATOR..SEPARATION

Index for Dec1982 | Index of months