# NTSB ATL91LA158: Piper PA-24-250, N6262P, Waxhaw, NC, August 14, 1991 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 14, 1991, 11:47 local (15:47 UTC) - Place: Waxhaw, NC - Coordinates: 34.919624, -80.740875 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9196&lon=-80.7409&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 8, 1993 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 8456 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL91LA158 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8456/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL91LA158 ## Probable cause THE SPATIAL DISORIENTATION EXPERIENCED BY THE PILOT IN IMC, HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL, AND THE EXCEEDING OF THE DESIGN STRESS LIMITS OF THE AIRCRAFT. FACTOR(S) IN THIS ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING, THE VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC, HIS POOR JUDGEMENT, HIS OVERCONFIDENCE IN HIS PERSONAL ABILITY, AND HIS LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN INSTRUMENT FLYING. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - weather condition - clouds - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - vfr flight into imc - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - judgment - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor) - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor) - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Loss of control - in flight, cruise - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause) - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - uncontrolled - flight control,stabilator - overload - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause) - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown ## Analysis THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WEATHER AT HIS DESTINATION AIRPORT WAS IFR, HOWEVER HE ELECTED TO COMMENCE THE FLIGHT UNDER A VFR FLIGHT PLAN. WHILE FLYING BETWEEN CLOUD LAYERS EN ROUTE, THE WEATHER DETERIORATED, AND HE ENTERED IMC. WHILE BEING VECTORED TOWARD BETTER WEATHER CONDITIONS, HE BECAME DISORIENTED, AND ENTERED A HIGH SPEED DIVE. DURING THE RECOVERY FROM THE DIVE, APPROXIMATELY 50 PERCENT OF THE STABILATOR SEPARATED FROM THE AIRPLANE. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO FLY THE AIRPLANE TO A NEARBY PRIVATE AIRPORT. HE LANDED THE AIRPLANE HARD ON THE GRASS ADJACENT TO THE RUNWAY. AN INSPECTION OF THE STABILATOR SURFACES REVEALED A POSITIVE 'G' OVERLOAD FAILURE; THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF METAL FATIGUE. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6262P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6262P-2013-02-11), registration cancelled 2013-02-11, S/N 24-1370, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-250 - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 241370 - Airframe hours: 2706 - Engines: LYCOMING O-540-A1A4 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Kemp, James O. - Registered owner: Kemp, James O. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 31, 1991, 69 hours before - Departed: CRG, JACKSONVILLE, FL - Destination: HKY, HICKORY, NC - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: NC21, Aero Plantation, runway 6, 2,400 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,098 total, 316 in this make and model, 3,098 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 3 knots - Visibility: 1 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 800 ft broken - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: CLT, 15 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 19910814034319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910814034319A), Aug 14, 1991: Piper PA24250, Weddington, NC, Substantial damage. Continued into IMC,lost control. Spiral dive. Recovered minus stabilator. Vectored to airport. Made hard landing. ## Other investigations on N6262P (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 ATL83IA070](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL83IA070), Dec 21, 1982: Piper PA-24-250 (N6262P), Moultrie, GA, incident, minor damage 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.