On May 12, 1982, a Piper PA-28-161 (registration N9697C) operated by Lawton Pilot Service was involved in an aviation accident near Lorenzo, TX. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 4 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A single-engine aircraft crashed while the pilot attempted to return to the departure airport after a night takeoff. The accident occurred in an area with a thunderstorm, and the pilot was not instrument rated.
Accident Details
A single-engine aircraft crashed while the pilot was attempting to return to the departure airport following a night takeoff. The accident site was located in an area where a thunderstorm was in progress. Prior to the crash, the aircraft's course toward the airport had been corrected by radar.
Pilot Experience
The pilot had flown the PA-28 type aircraft on only one previous occasion. He was not instrument rated. Marginal VFR conditions had been forecast, with thunderstorms predicted in the area.
Impact
At the moment of impact, the aircraft collided with the ground at high speed. The impact attitude was approximately 60 degrees left bank and about 45 degrees nose down.
What happened in the 12 May 1982 Piper PA-28-161 accident near Lorenzo, TX?
A single-engine aircraft crashed while the pilot attempted to return to the departure airport after a night takeoff. The accident occurred in an area with a thunderstorm, and the pilot was not instrument rated.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 12 May 1982 involved a Piper PA-28-161, registration N9697C, operated by Lawton Pilot Service, at Lorenzo, TX.
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