# Accident 20120912025339A: Piper PA-23-250, Bullard, TX, September 12, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 12, 2012, 15:00 local time
- Place: Bullard, TX
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.1375° N, 95.4328° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.1375&lon=-95.4328&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4842P, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4842P-2013-06-26) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-23-250 (registry code 7102308, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23-250
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-540-A1D5
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 937 total, 39 in this make and model, 44 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN12FA628](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12FA628) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120912025339A

## Narrative

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

AIRCRAFT DEPARTED (DWH) AT APPROX. 1854Z FOR UNKNOWN DESTINATION. AT APPROXIMATELY 2100Z THE AIRCRAFT SUFFERED A STRUCTURAL FAILURE OF BOTH WINGS, OUTBOARD OF THE ENGINE NACELLES. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED ON AN ASPHALT PAVED ROAD APPROXIMATELY 50' ON EITHER SIDE OF TWO HOUSES IN THE TREASURE COVE SUBDIVISION OF LAKE PALESTINE. WRECKAGE INDICATED A NEAR VERTICAL IMPACT, WITH THE LEFT WING HITTING FIRST. A LARGE SECTION OF SHEET-METAL FROM THE RIGHT WING LANDED APPROXIMATELY 25 FEET FROM THE MAIN WRECKAGE. THE RIGHT WING TIP AND APPROXIMATELY 1 FOOT OF WING LANDED ON A ROAD, 175 YARDS FROM THE MAIN SITE. (GPS 32.136967 / -95.43069). THE LEFT WING TIP AND ADJOINING WING STRUCTURE LANDED IN THE LAKE APPROXIMATELY 200 YARDS NORTH OF THE MAIN WRECKAGE. WITNESS REPORTS OF LOOSE AIRCRAFT STRUCTURE CAME IN FROM NORTH OF THE ACTUAL WRECKAGE SITE.THREE WITNESSES REPORTED SEEING THE ACCIDENT SEQUENCE. WITNESS ONE STATED THE AIRCRAFT CROSSED HIS LINE OF SIGHT FROM EAST TO WEST. LOUD ENGINE NOISE DREW HIS ATTENTION TO THE AIRCRAFT. HE SAW THE AIRCRAFT MAKE TWO 'S' TURNS THEN PULL INTO A STEADY CLIMB TO NEAR VERTICAL. IT FELL THROUGH THE CLIMB AND HEADED STRAIGHT DOWN AND DID NOT RECOVER.WITNESS TWO SAW THE AIRCRAFT AT THE TOP OF THE CLIMB AND OBSERVED 'WHITE SMOKE' FOLLOWED BY SMALL WHITE AND BLACK PIECES FALLING THROUGH THE AIR, THEN THE AIRCRAFT 'CORK SCREWING' TO THE GROUND.WITNESS THREE REPORTED SIMILAR OBSERVATIONS TO WITNESS TWO.

## 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 CEN12FA628](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12FA628), Sep 12, 2012: Piper PA-23-250 (N4842P), Bullard, TX, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's maneuver, which exceeded the airplane's structural limit and resulted in an in-flight breakup.

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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