# NTSB ATL87FA030: Piper Aerostar 601P, N122FP, Clinton, NC, November 26, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 26, 1986, 18:23 local (23:23 UTC)
- Place: Clinton, NC
- Coordinates: 34.999034, -78.329666 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9990&lon=-78.3297&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7269
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL87FA030
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7269/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL87FA030

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Altitude deviation,uncontrolled, cruise - normal
  - light condition - dusk (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - descent - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
  - spiral - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - uncontrolled
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - wing - overload
  - horizontal stabilizer surface - overload
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

WHILE EN ROUTE ON AN IFR FLT PLAN AT FL180, THE PLT ACKNOWLEDGED INSTRUCTIONS TO DSCND TO 16,000'. LATER, THE RADAR CONTROLLER (CLTR) NOTICED THE ACFT HAD DEVIATE FM COURSE & WAS NOT REPLYING WITH MODE 'C' ALT INFO. THE CTLR REQD ALT INFO & THE PLT RESPONDED, '. . . I'VE LOST AN (AWFUL) LOT OF ALT, I GOT MIXED UP IN HERE & LOST ALT, I'M GOIN' BACK UP . . .'  WHEN QUERIED, THE PLT RPRTD HE WAS AT 9000' & ACKNOWLEDGED INSTRUCTIONS TO CLIMB TO 14,000'. SHORTLY THERE- AFTER, THE ACFT ENTERED A SPIRAL, THEN RADIO & RADAR CONTACT WERE LOST. AN IN-FLT BREAK-UP OCCURRED & THE WRECKAGE FELL OVR A WIDESPREAD AREA. AN EXAM REVEALED EVIDENCE THE WINGS & RGT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER HAD FAILED FM OVERLOAD, WITH THE WINGS SEPARATING IN AN UPWARD DRCTN. A WX STUDY INDCD THERE WERE CLD LAYERS FM ABOUT 14,000' TO 20,000' WITH LGT TO MOD MIXED ICING IN CLDS ABV 14,000 FT. ALSO, LGT TO MOD TURBC WAS FORECAST BLO 20,000' & WIDELY SCATTERED, IMBEDDED TSTMS WERE FORECAST IN AN AREA NORTH OF THE ACDNT AREA. WITNESSES RPRTD CLDS & OCNL LIGHTNING TO THE EAST.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N122FP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N122FP-1991-03-22), registration cancelled 1991-03-22, S/N 61P0412147 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piper AEROSTAR 601P (AEROSTAR 6)
- Registry model: [Smith AEROSTAR 601P](https://openairdocs.org/model/smith-aerostar-601p) (registry code 8360608) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 61P-0412-147
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-J2BD 350 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: William K. Tyus
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 6, 1986
- Departed: EWN, NEW BERN, NC
- Destination: TYS, KNOXVILLE, TN
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,000 total, 175 in this make and model, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 210° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: FAY, 30 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19861126068019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861126068019A), Nov 26, 1986: Piper STCPA60, Clinton, NC, Destroyed, 3 fatal. The aircraft broke up while flying in an area of thunderstorms. The pilot was not given the latest weather warning.

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.

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