# NTSB CEN11LA578: Boeing A75N1(PT17), N53473, Fabens, TX, August 14, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 14, 2011, 11:26 local (17:26 UTC) - Place: Fabens, TX - Coordinates: 31.509445, -106.141387 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.5094&lon=-106.1414&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report August 15, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA/FSDO - SAIBs cited in the narratives: [SAIB CE-09-35](https://openairdocs.org/saib/CE-09-35) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 81508 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11LA578 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81508/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81508 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA578 ## Probable cause The pilot’s decision to continue the high density altitude takeoff with reduced engine power and his decision to initiate a turn back to the runway with insufficient airspeed, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing A75N1(PT17), 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=1380134), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing A75N1(PT17), 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=1380134), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing A75N1(PT17), 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1380134), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Boeing A75N1(PT17), 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=1380134), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Boeing A75N1(PT17), 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1380134), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis During the takeoff ground roll, the pilot noticed that the airplane’s engine was developing 100 to 200 rpm less than expected. He continued with the takeoff, and, during the climb, he was unable to maintain a safe airspeed. The passenger said that the airplane did not seem to accelerate very well on the takeoff roll and that the climb rate was marginal. When the airplane was about 100 feet above the ground, the pilot entered a left turn back to the airport with an already reduced airspeed, and an aerodynamic stall occurred. The left wing dropped, and the airplane descended at a steep angle. The pilot was able to level the wings before the airplane impacted the ground. The engine was not examined due to impact damage and the inability of inspectors to move the engine at the accident site. At the time of the accident, the density altitude was about 6,425 feet, which would have contributed to reduced airplane performance during takeoff. ## Factual narrative On August 14, 2011, at 1126 mountain daylight time, N53473, a Boeing A75N1(PT17), sustained substantial damage when it collided with terrain shortly after takeoff from Fabens Airport (E35), Fabens, Texas. The private pilot and the pilot rated passenger sustained serious injuries. The airplane was registered to a private individual and was operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The cross-country flight was originating at the time of the accident and was en route to Santa Teresa, New Mexico. The pilot said that airplane had just undergone maintenance to repair the magnetos. On the day before the flight, he performed a test run of the engine and cycled each magneto. The pilot said the engine and both magnetos tested fine. On the day of the accident, the pilot performed another engine run and again there were no anomalies with the engine or the magnetos. After the last engine run, the pilot and his passenger departed for another airport. The pilot said the engine did not have enough power (about 100 to 200 RPM less than expected) but could not recall the RPM setting. He continued with the takeoff and during the climb he was unable to maintain a safe airspeed. When the airplane was less than 100 feet above the ground, he elected to turn back to the airport. At that time, he recalled the airspeed was between 40-50 (he did not recall if that was knots or miles per hour). While in the turn he said the airspeed decreased to 40, the left wing stalled, and the airplane nosed over toward the ground. The pilot tried to level the wings prior to hitting the ground and did not remember the impact. In a written statement, the pilot rated passenger said the airplane did not seem to accelerate very well on the take off roll and the climb rate was marginal. He said that when the airplane was approximately 100 feet above the ground, the pilot entered a left turn at which time the airspeed indicator read 52 to 55 (he was not sure if it was knots or miles per hour). While in the turn, the airplane suddenly stalled and the left wing dropped. It descended at a steep angle but the pilot was able to level the wings before impact. Several Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors performed an on-scene examination of the airplane. According to one of the inspectors, the airplane sustained damage to the firewall, fuselage and the wing struts. The inspectors were unable to determine the reason for the loss of engine power. Weather reported at El Paso International (ELP), El Paso, Texas, about 21 miles Northwest of the accident, at 1151, was reported as wind from 280 degrees at 9 knots, visibility 10 miles, few clouds 5,500 feet, scattered clouds 25,000 feet, temperature 31 degrees Celsius, dewpoint 15 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 30.03 inches of Mercury. Calculation of relevant meteorological data revealed that thedensity altitude was 6,425 feet. A review of the carburetor icing probability chart, located in the FAA's Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-09-35, dated 6/30/2009, revealed that the airplane was operating in an area favorable for the formation of carburetor icing at glide and cruise power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N53473](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N53473), registered now, S/N 75-2442, built 1941 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BOEING A75N1(PT17) - Registry model: [Boeing A75N1(PT17)](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-a75n1-pt17) (registry code 1380134) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental W670 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-w670-series) (registry code 17018, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 75-2442 - Engines: CONT MOTOR W670 SERIES 220 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Doyle Lois A - Registered owner: Doyle Lois A - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, August 13, 2011 - Departed: E35, Fabens, TX - Destination: Santa Teresa, NM - Airport: E35, Fabens Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, unknown; seat: rear; flight hours: 700 total, 80 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: ELP, 21 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 20110814017709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110814017709A), Aug 14, 2011: Boeing A75N1(PT17), Fabens, TX, Substantial damage. On August 14, 2011 at 1100 MDT a Boeing PT-17, N43573 impacted the ground 1/2 mile from the Fabens airport, Fabens, Texas, while on a personal flight. Visual… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 28, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81508. 195 KB in all. - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 1, .PDF, 74 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365963&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Passenger Statement (item 2, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40371191&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Passenger%20Statement-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - FAA (item 3, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40371192&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA-Master.PDF 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.