# NTSB BFO92FA125: Piper PA-60-602P, N3647T, Georgetown, DE, September 5, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 5, 1992, 12:37 local (16:37 UTC)
- Place: Georgetown, DE
- Coordinates: 38.689426, -75.379859 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6894&lon=-75.3799&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 29, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11731
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO92FA125
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11731/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO92FA125

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED, WHILE CIRCLING TO LAND, RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S EXCESSIVE MANEUVERING OF THE AIRPLANE AND HIS INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE FOR RECOVERY FROM THE STALL.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, circling (ifr)
  - weather condition - low ceiling
  - maneuver - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DURING A VOR RUNWAY 22 APPROACH, THE INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT SIGHTED THE RUNWAY AND CANCELLED HIS IFR FLIGHT PLAN.  AS HE WAS CIRCLING TO LAND, THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN.  WITNESSES STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE MADE A STEEP LEFT BANKING TURN ABOUT 250 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, UPON ROLL OUT OF THE TURN, THE AIRPLANE'S WINGS ROCKED BACK AND FORTH, THE NOSE AND RIGHT WING DROPPED BELOW THE HORIZON, AND THE AIRPLANE FELL TO THE GROUND.  INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS EXISTED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT AND WITNESSES STATED THAT THE CEILING WAS ABOUT 400 TO 500 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND.  WEATHER FACILITIES IN THE AREA WERE FORECASTING ABOUT 1,000 FOOT CEILINGS THROUGHOUT THE AREA.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3647T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3647T-1993-03-03), registration cancelled 1993-03-03, S/N 62P08658165005 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-60-602P
- Registry model: [Piper AEROSTAR 602P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-aerostar-602p) (registry code 7106014) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 165005
- Airframe hours: 1890
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-AA1A5 290 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Clifford J. Turner
- Registered owner: Potomac Imaging Asociates
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 1992, 106 hours before
- Departed: OSU, COLUMBUS, OH
- Destination: GED
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: GED, Sussex County, runway 22, 5,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 878 total, 104 in this make and model, 769 as pilot in command, 88 in the last 90 days, 32 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DOV, 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 19920905035389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920905035389A), Sep 5, 1992: Piper PA60602P, Georgetown, DE, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Stalled out of a slow speed steeply banked turn after being too high for straight in landing on VOR approach.

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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