# Accident 20211208021649A: Piper PA-28-140, Houston, TX, December 8, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 8, 2021, 19:57 local time
- Place: Houston, TX
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 29.7780° N, 95.6730° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7780&lon=-95.6730&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3865K, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3865K-2023-09-16) (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: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 38 total, 38 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN22FA067](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22FA067) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211208021649A

## Narrative

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

ON DECEMBER 8, 2021 AT APPROXIMATELY 19:55 CST, N3865K TOOK OFF FROM WEST HOUSTON AIRPORT (IWS) HEADING TO PEARLAND, TEXAS (LVJ). UPON CLIMB OUT THE AIRPLANE FLEW INTO IMC CONDITIONS AT AROUND 800 TO 900 FT AGL. THE PILOT EXPERIENCED SPATIAL DISORIENTATION,  THE OUTCOME WAS LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WHICH RESULTED IN A HIGH IMPACT CRASH RESULTING IN LOSS OF LIFE.

THE AIRPLANE HIT AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE INVERTED. ALL THE COMPONENTS WERE FOUND AT CRASH SITE. BOTH FUEL TANKS WERE BREACHED, NO POST CRASH  FIRE NOR FUEL WERE FOUND AT CRASH SITE. STUDENT PILOT WAS EJECTED FROM AIRPLANE, THE PASSENGER WAS STILL STRAPPED TO THE RIGHT SEAT. AIRPLANE WAS DESTROYED. INVESTIGATION TEAM FOUND A TREE , WHICH WAS APPROXIMATELY 5 INCHES IN DIAMETER,  WITH A CLEAN CUT ABOUT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE CONSISTENT WITH A PROPELLER STRIKE AND  SIGN THAT THE ENGINE WAS STILL PRODUCING POWER. RPM GAGE WAS STAMPED AT 1000 RPM TIME OF IMPACT.  AIRCRAFT WAS INSPECTED BY PIPER REPRESENTATIVE FOR FLIGHT CONTROL CONTINUITY, THEY ALL CHECKED OUT OK. ENGINE WAS INSPECTED BY LYCOMING REPRESENTATIVE AND IT SHOWED TO BE OPERATIONAL AT TIME OF CRASH. AIRCRAFT FUEL SERVICE RECEIPT WAS FOUND AT CRASH SITE. AIRPLANE WAS FILLED WITH 40.6 GALLONS OF 100 LL ON DECEMBER 4, 2021, AT WEST HOUSTON AIRPORT. MAINTENANCE RECORDS WERE NOT FOUND, HOWEVER MECHANICAL FAILURE WAS NOT SUSPECTED.

REVIEWING PILOT QUALIFICATIONS; STUDENT PILOT WAS NOT SIGNED OFF TO SOLO IN MAKE/MODEL AIRCRAFT. PILOT RESTRICTED FROM CARRYING PASSENGERS AS A STUDENT PILOT.  PILOT NOT RATED TO FLY INTO IMC. DID NOT MAINTAIN VFR.  DID NOT FILE AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN.

^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^

THE UNDERLYING FACTOR WAS PILOT?S INABILITY TO RECOGNIZE PILOT LIMITATIONS AND RESULTED IN POOR DECISION MAKING. 14 CFR 61.89A(1)(6)(7)(8) ? STUDENT PILOT GENERAL LIMITATIONS   14 CFR 91.155A(C)(D) BASIC WEATHER MINIMUMS.

AS OF THIS DATE THE AUTOPSY REPORT HAS NOT BEEN PUBLISHED FROM CAMI. I WILL AMMEND THIS REPORT IF NECESSARY WHEN THE REPORT BECOMES AVAILABLE.

## 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 CEN22FA067](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22FA067), Dec 9, 2021: Piper PA 28-140 (N3865K), Houston, TX, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The student pilot’s decision to depart into night instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and a loss of airplane control.

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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