# NTSB CHI89FA101: Piper PA-46-310P, N9114B, Bristol, IN, May 31, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 31, 1989, 16:06 local (21:06 UTC)
- Place: Bristol, IN
- Coordinates: 41.719573, -85.81076 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7196&lon=-85.8108&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 18, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14253
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI89FA101
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14253/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI89FA101

## Probable cause

CONTINUED FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER AND HIS EXCEEDING THE DESIGN STRESS LIMITS OF THE AIRCRAFT, WHICH RESULTED IN FAILURE OF THE WING SPARS AND SEPARATION OF THE RIGHT WING AND EMPENNAGE (STABILIZERS). CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: CONTINUED FLIGHT BY THE PILOT ABOVE THE MANEUVERING SPEED (VA), HIS LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE MAKE AND MODEL OF AIRCRAFT, AND THUNDERSTORMS.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, descent
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent
  - airspeed(va) - above, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - wing,spar - overload
  - wing - separation
  - stabilizer - overload
  - stabilizer - separation
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

AFTER BEING CLEARED TO DESCEND TO TWELVE THOUSAND FEET AND TO DEVIATE AROUND A 'BIG CELL', THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED AN AREA OF LEVEL TWO AND THREE THUNDERSTORMS. SUBSEQUENTLY, AN IN-FLIGHT BREAKUP OCCURRED AND WRECKAGE WAS SCATTERED OVER A FOUR MILE AREA. DURING THE BREAKUP, THE RIGHT WING AND EMPENNAGE SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE LEFT WING AND SPAR ALSO FAILED AT THE SAME LOCATION AS THE RIGHT WING, BUT THE LEFT WING REMAINED WITH THE FUSELAGE. NO PRE-ACCIDENT FAILURE, MALFUNCTION OR METAL FATIGUE OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND DRG THE INVESTIGATION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9114B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9114B-1991-05-30), registration cancelled 1991-05-30, S/N 4608046 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-46-310P
- Registry model: [Piper PA-46-310P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-46-310p) (registry code 7104605) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 46-08046
- Airframe hours: 705
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-BE 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Stout Leasing, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 29, 1988, 79 hours before
- Departed: THA, TULLAHOMA, TN
- Destination: AZO, KALAMAZOO, MI
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; 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: 1,619 total, 17 in this make and model, 1,482 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Day
- Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SBN, 23 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 19890531013829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890531013829A), May 31, 1989: Piper PA46310P, Bristol, IN, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Flew into thunderstorm. Airframe failure under high loads. Wing separated.

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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