# NTSB CHI94DCA01: Piper PA-39, N8913Y, Viburnum, MO, February 18, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report - Date: February 18, 1994, 11:17 local (17:17 UTC) - Place: Viburnum, MO - Coordinates: 37.709285, -91.120742 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7093&lon=-91.1207&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report April 25, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9334 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI94DCA01 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9334/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94DCA01 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED DURING THE TURN TO FINAL. THE GUSTY TAILWIND DURING THE TURN WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - airspeed(vso) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis WITNESSES DESCRIBED THE AIRPLANE ENTERING A VERY STEEP LEFT TURN FROM A BASE LEG TO RUNWAY 27. THE TURN WAS DESCRIBED AS APPROACHING A 90 DEG BANK ANGLE, WITH THE AIRPLANE PITCHING NOSE DOWN, ROLLING INVERTED AND TWISTING AS IT DESCENDED STEEPLY TO IMPACT. ## Factual narrative History of Flight On February 18, 1994, at 1117 central standard time, a Piper PA39, N8913Y, operated as a business aircraft by Shapiro Brothers, Inc., of Festus, Missouri, impacted the ground 1/2 mile east of runway 27 while making a visual approach at Viburnum Airport, Viburnam, Missouri. The aircraft was destroyed and the instrument rated private pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. Winds were 170 degrees at 16 knots gusting to 22 knots. No flight plan was on file. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91, and originated from Festus, Missouri, at 1030 hours. Witnesses described the airplane entering a very steep left turn from a left base leg to runway 27. The turn was described as approaching 90 degrees angle of bank, with the airplane pitching nose down, rolling inverted and twisting as it descended steeply to impact the ground. Wreckage and Impact Information The airplane heading at impact was 080 degrees magnetic. There was little disturbance to the surrounding vegetation. The airplane nose and wing leading edges were deformed up and aft. Both nacelles were displaced up and aft several inches. The empennage was deflected down aft of the wing trailing edge. The vertical and horizontal stabilizers had some skin wrinkling, but little evidence of ground impact. Both propellers displayed forward bending, chordwise dirt streaks and had dug into the ground, burying the spinners. No engine anomolies were found. No control anomolies were found. Fuel was present at the scene, and all tanks were ruptured. Fuel was found in the lines to both engines. Pathological Information Toxicology tests were negative. An autopsy was performed at the Jefferson Memorial Hospital, Crystal City, Missouri. Cause of death was listed as extensive trauma. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8913Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8913Y-2013-03-11), registration cancelled 2013-03-11, S/N 39-69, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-39 - Registry model: [Piper PA-39](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-39) (registry code 7103902) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 39-69 - Airframe hours: 2836 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Shapiro Brothers Inc - Registered owner: Shapiro Brothers Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 5, 1993, 50 hours before - Departed: Q15, FESTUS, MO - Airport: K42, Viburnam, runway 27, 3,195 × 47 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 79; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 6,000 total, 41 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 16 knots, gusting 22 - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: VIH, 38 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 19940218002609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940218002609A), Feb 18, 1994: Piper PA39, Viburnum, MO, Destroyed, 1 fatal. On approach made steep turn trying to realign with runway. Accelerated stall occurred. Rolled over. Spin in. 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.