# NTSB DEN93LA039: Piper PA-28-161, N81527, Llano, TX, April 7, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 7, 1993, 02:10 local (07:10 UTC)
- Place: Llano, TX
- Coordinates: 30.750766, -98.669799 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.7508&lon=-98.6698&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 25, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18279
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN93LA039
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18279/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN93LA039

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC.  FACTORS WERE: LOW CEILING, DARK NIGHT, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL INSTRUMENT TIME.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

WHILE ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED A LOWERING CEILING. HE DECIDED TO DIVERT TO LLANO, TEXAS. WHILE TURNING FROM BASE LEG TO FINAL APPROACH, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES ON THE DOWNSIDE OF A HILL, ABOUT ONE MILE FROM THE AIRPORT.  THE PILOT WAS NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.  ALTHOUGH THE PILOT SAID VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS EXISTED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT AND THE PREVAILING VISIBILITY WAS FIVE MILES, IT WAS 'RESTRICTED TO ONE TO TWO MILES IN HAZE AND FOG' IN A 'VERY LIGHT MIST.'

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N81527](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N81527-1994-01-05), registration cancelled 1994-01-05, S/N 288016258 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-8016258
- Airframe hours: 2393
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Stabel, Max L.
- Registered owner: Stabel, Max L.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 19, 1992, 38 hours before
- Departed: TPL, TEMPLE, TX
- Destination: T50, MENARD, TX

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,106 total, 948 in this make and model, 1,106 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 150° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 59 °F

## 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 19930407008129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930407008129A), Apr 7, 1993: Piper PA28161, Llano, TX, Destroyed. Lost control in IMC turning from base to final. Struck trees. Pilot admitted he should have made 180 and retreated.

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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