# Accident 19960426014489A: Piper PA28RT201T, Columbus, TX, April 26, 1996

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 26, 1996, 10:00 local time
- Place: Columbus, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 29.6994° N, 96.5502° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6994&lon=-96.5502&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2194Y, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2194Y) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28RT-201T (registry code 7102817, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28rt-201t) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental TSIO-360 series (registry code 17019, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28RT201T
- Reported engine: CONT TSIO360*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 196 total, 61 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW96LA193](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA193) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960426014489A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.4) THE NONINSTRUMENT-RATED PRIVATE PILOT MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING IN A FIELD AFTER ENCOUNTERING UNFORECAST LOW CEILINGS DURING A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT. THE PREFLIGHT WEATHER BRIEFING INDICATED THERE WERE NO PRECAUTIONS OR ADVISORIES APPLICABLE TO THE PROPOSED ROUTE OF FLIGHT.  ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, AFTER 15 MINUTES OF CRUISE FLIGHT, HE 'REALIZED' THAT HE WAS ON TOP OF AN OVERCAST CLOUD LAYER.  HE 'MADE A U-TURN,' AND 'AFTER WORKING [HIS] WAY BACK DOWN,' FOUND THE CEILING WAS ABOUT 700 FEET AGL.  HE ELECTED TO DIVERT TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT, BUT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE AIRPORT AND LANDED IN A PASTURE.  THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A DITCH DURING THE LANDING ROLL.                                                                          (-23) THE PRIVATE PILOT ENCOUNTERED WEATHER THAT WAS DETERIORATING AND BECOMING WORSE THAN HE HAD ANTICIPATED FROM THE BRIEFING THAT HE HAD RECEIVED EARLIER. HE ELECTED TO TURN AROUND AND FIND A PLACE TO LAND. AFTER DESCENDING THROUGH AN OPENING TO BELOW THE CLOUDS HE WAS ONLY ABLE TO MAINTAIN 800 TO 1000 FT AGL AND WAS UNSUCCESSFUL IN FINDING THE WELLS AIRPORT AT COLUMBUS, TX. HE SPOTTED AN OPEN PASTURE AND ELECTED TO LAND THERE. AFTER LANDING T HE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A CROSS FENCE AND THE MAIN GEAR WENT INTO A DITCH CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO BOTH WINGS. THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED AND THERE WERE NO PASSENGERS.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW96LA193](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA193), Apr 26, 1996: Piper PA-28RT-201T (N2194Y), Columbus, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's improper inflight planning/decision to continue the flight instead of returning to the takeoff airport after encountering adverse weather. Factors were: the inaccurate weather forecast,…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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