20040909026109A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Piper PA-32R-300 · Encino, TX · September 9, 2004

Date: September 9, 2004 · 06:14 local
Place: Encino, TX
Phase of flight: Descent
Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
Operator: MMPA
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N6209J
NTSB investigation: NTSBFTW04FA235
Reported as: Piper PA32R300
Reported engine: Lycoming IO540K1G5D
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1
Pilot’s flight hours: 2,304 total320 in this make and model210 in the last 90 days

N6209JRegistration cancelled Jul 22, 2005 · Piper PA-32R-300S/N 32R-7680332 · Built 1976 Airframe modelPiper PA-32R-300 Engine modelLycoming TI0-540 seriesTurbo-prop

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) The aircraft was operated by san antonio Piper inc. (MMPA488G) as a CFR part 135 on demand cargo and was IFR enroute from san antonio Stinson (ssf) to mcallen, Texas (mfe). Near falfurrias, Texas, the pilot advised houston center that he lost the vacuum pump and might not be able to continue IFR. Several minutes later he requested to divert to brooks county airport (falfurrias, Texas). According to houston center, radar date indicates the aircraft began a left turn and descended from 4600 feet to 300 feet in approximately 36 seconds. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot suffered fatal injuries. On site investigation revealed that the left wing, vertical stabilizer, and both stabilators separated before impact.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) THE AIRCRAFT WAS OPERATED BY SAN ANTONIO PIPER INC. (MMPA488G) AS A CFR PART 135 ON DEMAND CARGO AND WAS IFR ENROUTE FROM SAN ANTONIO STINSON (SSF) TO MCALLEN, TEXAS (MFE). NEAR FALFURRIAS, TEXAS, THE PILOT ADVISED HOUSTON CENTER THAT HE LOST THE VACUUM PUMP AND MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO CONTINUE IFR. SEVERAL MINUTES LATER HE REQUESTED TO DIVERT TO BROOKS COUNTY AIRPORT (FALFURRIAS, TEXAS). ACCORDING TO HOUSTON CENTER, RADAR DATE INDICATES THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN A LEFT TURN AND DESCENDED FROM 4600 FEET TO 300 FEET IN APPROXIMATELY 36 SECONDS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED AND THE PILOT SUFFERED FATAL INJURIES. ON SITE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE LEFT WING, VERTICAL STABILIZER, AND BOTH STABILATORS SEPARATED BEFORE IMPACT.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB FTW04FA235Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportRachel, TXThe total failure of the vacuum pump that resulted in an inoperative attitude gyro and spatial disorientation and a subsequent loss of aircraft control by the pilot. Factors were; the prevailing instrument meteorological conditions, and the dark night light…Sep 9, 2004 · Destroyed

Other reports on N6209J · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Incident 19990826027369IRoll-Out (Fixed Wing) · San Antonio, TX(-23) During takeoff roll, runway 14SSF, aircraft struck a dog with the nose gear and propellor, subsequently the nose gear collapsed allowing the propeller to strike the ground, stopping the engine. The aircraft slid to a stop along the runway center line.Aug 26, 1999 · Minor damage