# NTSB DEN91LA018: Piper PA-23-250, N6078Y, Abilene, TX, November 7, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 7, 1990, 11:40 local (17:40 UTC)
- Place: Abilene, TX
- Coordinates: 32.339084, -99.669509 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.3391&lon=-99.6695&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 2, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18055
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN91LA018
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18055/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN91LA018

## Probable cause

AN IN FLIGHT ENCOUNTER WITH TURBULENCE. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE AIRCRAFT PREFLIGHT.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, climb - to cruise
  - weather condition - turbulence(thunderstorms) (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Altitude deviation,uncontrolled, descent - uncontrolled
  - door,passenger - separation
  - door,emergency exit - separation
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE IFR FLIGHT DEPARTED INTO OVERCAST CONDITIONS AND CLIMBED TO 4000 FEET MSL. THE FLIGHT ENCOUNTERED SEVERE TURBULENCE AND THE PLANE ENTERED A 3000 FOOT PER MINUTE RATE OF DESCENT. THE RIGHT PASSENGER DOOR AND THE LEFT EMERGENCY EXIT SEPARATED FROM THE PLANE, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT ENGINE NACELLE AND WING SURFACE. THE PILOT PULLED UP ABRUPTLY AND LEVELED THE WINGS. THE PLANE 'BROKE OUT' AT 2,500 MSL FEET, WITH WINGS LEVEL AND 'UNDER CONTROL.' ELECTRIC POWER WAS OFF AND THE PILOT FLEW BACK TO THE AIRPORT, LANDED, AND TAXIED TO PARKING WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THE RIGHT WING WAS CRUSHED AT THE ENGINE NACELLE, THE NACELLE WAS DENTED, BOTH WINGS WERE DISTORTED AND WRINKLED ON UPPER AND LOWER SURFACES. THE PILOT THOUGHT THE DOOR PROBABLY WAS NOT FULLY LATCHED DURING THE FLIGHT AND THE TURBULENCE MADE HIS LEG HIT THE MASTER SWITCH, TURNING OFF THE POWER. THE AREA FORECAST WARNED OF MODERATE TURBULENCE BELOW 10,000 FEET.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6078Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6078Y-2012-08-30), registration cancelled 2012-08-30, S/N 27-3279, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23-250
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 27-3279
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-520-C4B5 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Parson, Roy G.
- Departed: ABI, ABILENE, TX
- Destination: FSK, FORT SCOTT, KS
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: NONE

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 1,200 total, 200 in this make and model, 1,100 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 800 ft overcast
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F

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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