# NTSB DEN86FA098: Piper PA-24-250, N7410P, Truth&Consequen, NM, March 11, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 10, 1986, 23:20 local (Mar 11, 1986, 06:20 UTC)
- Place: Truth&Consequen, NM
- Coordinates: 33.129585, -107.239257 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1296&lon=-107.2393&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16811
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN86FA098
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16811/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN86FA098

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, descent - normal
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, descent - normal
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - uncontrolled
  - wing - separation
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - flight control,stabilator - separation
  - window,cabin - separation
  - flight control,rudder - separation
  - vertical stabilizer surface - separation
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PLT TOOK OFF ON A NIGHT IFR FLT AFTER BEING BRIEFED ON ADVERSE WX WHICH INCLUDED SEVERE TURBULENCE AND MODERATE MIXED ICING CONDITIONS. THE ACFT WAS NOT EQUIPPED FOR FLT IN ICING CONDITIONS. RADIO AND RADAR CONTACT WITH THE FLT WAS LOST IN THE VICINITY OF THE ACCIDENT SITE LESS THAN ONE MINUTE AFTER THE PLT REPORTED ENCOUNTERING TURBULENCE AND ICING CONDITIONS. A SEARCH WAS INITIATED AND THE ACFT WRECKAGE, SCATTERED OVER AN AREA 3,772 FEET LONG, WAS LOCATED AT 1115 MST, 3/11/86. THE PLT WAS FATALLY INJURED IN THE IMPACT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7410P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7410P-1986-05-21), registration cancelled 1986-05-21, S/N 24-2597 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-250
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24-2597
- Airframe hours: 2930
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-A1D5 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Yucca Aviation, Co.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 12, 1986, 10 hours before
- Departed: ABQ, ALQUERQUE, NM
- Destination: LRU, LAS CRUCES, NM
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: TCS, Truth & Consequences

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,657 total, 78 in this make and model, 1,628 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 130° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 39 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ABQ

## 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 19860310005969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860310005969A), Mar 10, 1986: Piper PA24250, Truth Or Conseq, NM, Destroyed. In area of severe turbulence and icing, lost control. Exceeded design load. Airframe failed. Had tried for on top.

## Other investigations on N7410P (1)

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.

- [NTSB CHI65F0096](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI65F0096), Apr 14, 1965: Piper PA-24 (N7410P), Monticello, KY, substantial damage

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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