# NTSB CEN22LA108: Piper PA-22-150, N6916D, Lamesa, TX, January 15, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 14, 2022, 19:02 local (Jan 15, 2022, 01:02 UTC) - Place: Lamesa, TX - Coordinates: 32.7376, -101.951 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7376&lon=-101.9510&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - Lubbock FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 104555 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA108 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104555/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104555 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA108 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain during a descent that resulted in an impact with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: flight planning/navigation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 179 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-descent: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis During the night visual flight rules cross-country flight, the pilot monitored weather conditions on his tablet computer and observed “unspecified meteorological conditions,” which encompassed his intended destination. The pilot elected to divert to an alternate destination and climbed to 4,500 ft msl. The pilot noted that he had a kneeboard with destination airport information, and after diverting, he made notes denoting changes to reflect the new destination. He did not recall if he changed the pattern altitude for the new destination. He attributed this omission to distraction during the flight while he modified his flight plan via the airplane radio. As he approached the new destination, the horizon was not “definite,” but he could see the lights of the city and began a shallow descent. While descending, he noted that the city lights disappeared, and as he contemplated why this happened, the airplane struck the ground. He reported that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane before the accident and he “just flew it into the ground.” The field elevation at the original destination was 1,561 ft msl, and the elevation new destination was 2,999 ft msl. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6916D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6916D-2022-12-03), registration cancelled 2022-12-03, S/N 22-4833, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22-150 - Registry model: [Piper PA-22-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-150) (registry code 7102210) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-4833 - Year built: 1957 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: ADS, Addison, TX - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: VFR - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, unknown; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,200 total, 800 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 20° at 19 knots, gusting 27 - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,400 ft broken - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: KGNC, 36 nm away - METAR: METAR KGNC 150035Z AUTO 02019G27KT 5SM HZ SCT018 BKN024 17/M04 A2997 RMK AO2 T01651039= ## 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 20220114000619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220114000619A), Jan 14, 2022: Piper PA-22-150, Lamesa, TX, Substantial damage. On January 14, 2022, at 1935 CDT, a Tri-pacer PA-22-150, bearing registration number N6916D,[privacy data omitted], crashed in a field ten miles east of… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 1, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104555. 759 KB in all. - Pilot narrative of accident flight (item 1, PDF, 2 pages, 93 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13919595&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Narrative-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 548 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13919801&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation with pilot (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 118 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13920002&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20ROC-Rel.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.