# NTSB DFW05LA054: Piper PA-28-161, N9419C, Decatur, TX, January 8, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 7, 2005, 23:00 local (Jan 8, 2005, 05:00 UTC) - Place: Decatur, TX - Coordinates: 33.254722, -97.580558 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2547&lon=-97.5806&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 30, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 60837 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW05LA054 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60837/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW05LA054 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance and the instructor's inadequate supervision. Contributing factors were the prevailing dark night conditions, and the power line. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - object - wire,transmission (cause) - clearance - not maintained, dual student (cause) - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) - Loss of control - in flight, descent - uncontrolled - In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - object - wire,transmission - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The 6,150 hour flight instructor reported that after completing two touch-and-go landings at the airport they decided to make a full stop landing. While on final approach to runway 35, the airplane struck power lines and impacted terrain just short of the runway. The instructor stated that during the approach, he informed the student pilot that he "was getting too low." Runway 35 is equipped with a medium intensity lighting system, with eight green lights to identify the end of the runway. Runway 35 is not equipped with either a PAPI or a VASI. ## Factual narrative On January 7, 2005, at 2300 central standard time, a Piper PA-28-161 single-engine airplane, N9419C, was substantially damaged when it struck a power line terrain while on final approach to the Decatur Municipal Airport (LUD), near Decatur, Texas. The flight instructor, student pilot, and passenger were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual. Dark night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The local flight originated from LUD at an unknown time. The 6,150 hour flight instructor reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), that they had completed a series of night touch-and-go landings at Alliance Fort Worth Airport, near Fort Worth, Texas, and had returned to LUD and completed two more touch-and-go landings. While on final approach to a full stop landing on runway 35, the instructor informed the student pilot that he "was getting too low." Subsequently, the airplane struck power lines. The instructor took control of the airplane as the decent steepened and applied full power. The airplane impacted terrain, collided with a fence, and came to rest upright adjacent to the runway. Examination of the airplane by an Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that responded to the accident site revealed the vertical stabilizer was bent and approximately 10 inches of the rudder was missing. The Decatur Municipal Airport (LUD) features a single 3,900-foot long and 60-foot wide asphalt runway (35/17). Runway 35 is equipped with a medium intensity lighting system, with eight green lights to identify the end of the runway. Runway 35 is not equipped with either a PAPI or a VASI to assist flights flight crews to attain the proper descent profile. The airport is an uncontrolled airfield operating under class G airspace. The common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) is 122.8 megahertz. The closest weather reporting station was located at the Denton Municipal Airport (DTO), near Denton, Texas, located approximately 19.5 miles east of LUD. At 1153, DTO reported wind from 350 at 7 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, broken cloud layer at 1,400 feet, temperature 37 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 34 degrees Fahrenheit, and an altimeter setting of 30.25 inches of Mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9419C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9419C-2006-11-14), registration cancelled 2006-11-14, S/N 28-7816474, built 1978 (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) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7816474 - Airframe hours: 6140.63 - Engines: Avco Lycoming 0320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 19, 2004, 94.04 hours before - Departed: LUD, Decatur, TX - Destination: LUD - Airport: LUD, Decatur Municipal Airport, runway 35, 3,900 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 33; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review June 25, 2004; seat: right; flight hours: 6,150 total, 85 in this make and model, 4,780 as pilot in command, 113 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 50; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 50 total, 3 in this make and model, 9 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 350° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.25 inHg - Observed at: KDTO, 19 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 20050107034309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050107034309A), Jan 7, 2005: Piper PA28161, Decatur, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) This was an instructional night training flight. The aircraft was making a low shallow approach to runway 35 at Decatur Municipal Airport (klud) when it… ## Other investigations on N9419C (2) 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 DFW06CA132](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW06CA132), May 21, 2006: Piper PA-28-161 (N9419C), Marietta, OK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed which resulted in an inadvertent stall. Contributing factors were the dark night conditions and the pilot's inadequate preflight planning and preparation. - [NTSB DEN88LA078](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN88LA078), Feb 14, 1988: Piper PA-28-161 (N9419C), Aurora, CO, 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. --- 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.