Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Seminole, Texas 79360
Saturday, August 6, 1983 19:20 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

PRIOR TO THE FLT, THE PLT & PASSENGERS WERE OBSERVED DRINKING BEER IN A LOUNGE. THEY TOLD WITNESSES THAT THEY WERE GOING TO THE ARPT TO EAT & WERE LATER SEEN AT A RESTAURANT ON THE ARPT. AFTER THAT, THEY DECIDED TO FLY. THE TAKEOFF TIME & PURPOSE OF THE FLT WAS NOT DETERMINED. AT ABOUT 1920 CDT, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A SUPPORT CABLE OF A LARGE ROTARY IRRIGATION SYS & CRASHED. THE COLLISION OCCURRED AT AN ALT OF APRX 20 FT AGL. NO KNOWN WITNESSES SAW THE ACCIDENT, BUT AN UNIDENTIFIED WITNESS TOLD LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL THAT HE SAW THE ACFT FLYING THRU THE SPRINKLER SPRAY PRIOR TO THE COLLISION. TWO OTHER WITNESSES SAW THE ACFT FLING LOW IN THE VICINITY. WITH THE IRRIGATION SPRINKLERS OPERATING, THE SUPPORT CABLES WERE HARD TO SEE. THE PLT'S BLOOD WAS CHECKED & AN ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.108% WAS FOUND. ALSO, THE PLT HAD A POSITIVE TEST FOR MARIJUANA.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/6/1983
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1920
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City SEMINOLE
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 79360
Event Date Year 1983
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 19
Degrees magnetic from airport 270
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2000 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID HOB
Elevation of weather observation facility 3707
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 25
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 140
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 3
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2636
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 22940
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2122Z
NTSB Number FTW83FA361
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28RT-201T
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28RT-20
Aircraft Serial Number 28R-7931147
Certified Max Gross Weight 2900
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 20 1982 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 59
Airframe Hours 822
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RICHARD LONG
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO BOX 1226
Aircraft Owner City HOBBS
Aircraft Owner State NM
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 88240
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code HOB
Departure City HOBBS
Departure State NM
Departure Country
Departure Time 1900
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --