Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Dubuque, Iowa 52001
Friday, December 24, 1982 20:30 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AT 2015 THE FLT CONTACTED ARTCC & REQUESTED DUBUQUE WX. THEY WERE ADVISED THAT DUBUQUE WAS 500 FT INDEFINITE CEILING, SKY OBSCURED, VISIBILITY 1/2 MI FOG & THEY WOULD BE VECTORED FOR A BACK COURSE RWY 13 APCH. THE FLT THEN REQUESTED THE FRONT COURSE APCH TO RWY 31 & THE CONTROLLER ADVISED THE FLT THAT IT WOULD BE VECTORED TO THE ILS FRONT COURSE APPROACH TO RWY 31. APPROXIMATELY 40 SECS LATER THE FLT ADVISED THE CONTROLLER THAT IT WOULD TAKE THE BACK COURSE APCH TO RWY 13.THE LANDING MINIMA FOR A STRAIGHT-IN ILS RWY 31 IS 1/2 MILE VISIBILITY & FOR A STRAIGHT-IN LOC/DME BACK COURSE APCH TO RWY 13 3/4 MILE VISIBILITY. THE ACFT'S WRECKAGE WAS FOUND IN A VALLEY ABOUT 3/4 MILE SHORT OF RWY 13 & APPROXIMATELY 100 FT BELOW THE RWY ELEVATION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/24/1982
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 2030
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City DUBUQUE
Event State IOWA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 52001
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID DBQ
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 52
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 120
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 3264
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Oct 31 2002 4:04PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\ZUZL
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4091U
NTSB Number MKC83FA045
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion Ground
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-31-350
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-31-350
Aircraft Serial Number 318152159
Certified Max Gross Weight 7000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 10
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 4
Airframe Hours 2548
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AMERICAN CENTRAL AIRLINES
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 66334
Aircraft Owner City CHICAGO
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 60666
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name AMERICAN CENTRAL AIRLINES
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 66334
Operator City CHICAGO
Operator State IL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 60666
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code C
Departure City DES MOINES
Departure State IA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1939
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code C
Destination City DUBUQUE
Destination State IA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:50PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 13
Runway Length 6498
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --