# Accident 20151002017729A: Piper PA-28-140, Huntsville, TX, October 2, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 2, 2015, 10:30 local time
- Place: Huntsville, TX
- Airport: Huntsville Municipal Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.7519° N, 95.5825° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.7519&lon=-95.5825&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3552K, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3552K-2015-12-19) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-140 (registry code 7102802, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN16FA001](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16FA001) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20151002017729A

## Narrative

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

ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT REPORT OBTAINED, AT APPROXIMATELY 1030 CDT ON 10/02/2015, THE PILOT DEPARTED HUNTSVILLE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (KUTS) FOR LONE STAR EXECUTIVE AIRPORT (KCXO) IN CONROE, TX. AROUND 1900 THAT EVENING, THE WALKER COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE WAS NOTIFIED BY A FAMILY MEMBER THAT THE AIRCRAFT NEVER MADE IT TO HIS DESTINATION AND WAS MISSING. AROUND 2130, THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOCATED INVERTED APPROXIMATELY A QUARTER OF A MILE EAST OF HUNTSVILLE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT. THE PILOT WAS PRONOUNCED DECEASED AT THE SCENE AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO SAM HOUSTON FUNERAL HOME IN HUNTSVILLE, TX.

THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED THE FOLLOWING DAMAGE AND WAS DETERMINED TO BE DESTROYED:

? THE LEFT WING WAS SECURE TO THE FUSELAGE BUT DISPLAYED SUBSTANTIAL IMPACT DAMAGE TO THE LEADING EDGE JUST OUTBOARD OF THE FUEL TANK AS WELL AS NEAR THE WINGTIP. THE IMPACT SEPARATED THE WING BETWEEN THE FLAP AND AILERON WITH THE SECTIONS BEING HELD TOGETHER BY THE AILERON HINGE POINTS.

? THE RIGHT WING WAS IN PLACE AND SECURE TO THE FUSELAGE BUT DISPLAYED IMPACT DAMAGE, WHICH BUCKLED THE WING DOWNWARD JUST OUTBOARD OF THE AILERON BELLCRANK.

? THE VERTICAL STABILIZER AND RUDDER WERE IN PLACE BUT DISPLAYED COMPRESSION DAMAGE FROM THE INVERTED IMPACT.

? THE UPPER CABIN AREA WAS CRUSHED DOWN TO THE TOP OF THE SEATS.

AFTER ON SCENE INVESTIGATION BY TEAM OF FAA, NTSB, PIPER AND LYCOMING REPRESENTATIVES, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE WAS NOT OPERATING, WHEN THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE FUEL SELECTOR HANDLE WAS OF THE OLD TYPE, ACCORDING TO THE PIPER INVESTIGATOR, AND WAS FOUND IN THE FORWARD ?OFF? POSITION. NO OTHER ANOMALIES WERE FOUND WITH THE ENGINE OR AIRCRAFT THAT WOULD EXPLAIN WHY THE ENGINE WAS NOT RUNNING. THE LH FUEL TANK WAS FOUND TO BE ESSENTIALLY EMPTY OF FUEL, BUT THE RH TANK STILL HAD APPROXIMATELY 5 GALLONS REMAINING, EVEN AFTER DRIPPING FOR OVER 12 HOURS.

WEATHER: KUTS 030153Z AUTO 05004KT 10SM CLR 21/05 A2991 RMK A02 SLP123 T02110050.

## 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 CEN16FA001](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16FA001), Oct 2, 2015: Piper PA 28-140 (N3552K), Huntsville, TX, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's mismanagement off the fuel supply to the engine, which resulted in fuel starvation.

## Other reports on N3552K (1)

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

- [Incident 19860726066569I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860726066569I), Jul 26, 1986: Piper PA28140 (N3552K), Guthrie, OK, Minor damage. Aircraft made hard landing short of runway after experiencing rapid rate of descent.

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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