# NTSB FTW04LA087: Piper PA-38-112, N2588A, Sugar Land, TX, March 2, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 2, 2004, 17:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Sugar Land, TX - Coordinates: 29.609857, -95.609504 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6099&lon=-95.6095&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Houston Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 58847 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW04LA087 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58847/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04LA087 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper weather evaluation, and his encounter with adverse weather conditions. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the precautionary landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - flight into adverse weather - encountered, pilot in command (contributing factor) - weather evaluation - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - precautionary landing - attempted, pilot in command (contributing factor) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (contributing factor) - object - fence (contributing factor) ## Analysis While en route to his destination, the 170-hour non-instrument rated private pilot encountered adverse weather conditions and elected to perform a precautionary landing in an open field. During the landing roll, the airplane collided with a barbed-wire fence, nosed over, and came to rest in the inverted position. The pilot had not obtained a weather briefing; however, he had obtained some weather information on the internet from DUATS. ## Factual narrative On March 2, 2004, approximately 1730 central standard time, a Piper PA-38-112 single-engine airplane, N2588A, was substantially damaged when it impacted a barbed-wire fence following a precautionary landing near Sugar Land, Texas. The passenger received minor injuries and the private pilot was not injured. The aircraft was owned by King Interests Inc., of Pearland, Texas, and operated by King Flight Service of Pearland, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The aircraft departed Victoria Regional Airport (VCT), near Victoria, Texas, at 1600, with a destination of Pearland Regional Airport (LVJ), near Houston, Texas. No flight plan was filed for the flight. According to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the 170-hour pilot reported that he did not receive a weather briefieng for the flight; however, he did obtain some weather data from the internet on DUATS. The pilot added that while en route, the weather deteriorated and he elected to divert to Houston Southwest Airport (AXH), near Houston, Texas. The pilot added that the weather continued to deteriorate, and he was forced to attempt a precautionary landing in a field. During the landing roll, the aircraft struck a barbed-wire fence and came to rest in the inverted position. Examination of the aircraft by the FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, revealed structural damage to the right wing spar, the horizontal stabilizer, and fuselage. The automated surface observing system at Houston Southwest Airport (SGR) at 1753 reported the winds at 130 degrees at 11 knots, 7 statute miles visibility, overcast at 1,100 feet msl, temperature 22 degrees Celsius, dew point 20 degrees Celsius, and a barometric pressure reading of 29.99 inches of Mercury. The automated surface observing system at Victoria Regional Airport (VCT) at 1751 reported the winds at 140 at 10 knots, 9 statute miles visibility, broken at 1,300 feet msl, temperature 22 degrees Celsius, dew point 21 degrees Celsius, and a barometric pressure reading of 29.96 inches of Mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2588A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2588A-2011-07-20), registration cancelled 2011-07-20, S/N 38-78A0768, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-38-112 - Registry model: [Piper PA-38-112](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-38-112) (registry code 7103812) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 38-78A0768 - Airframe hours: 4378.4 - Engines: Lycoming O-235 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: King Flight Service, doing business as Corporation - Registered owner: King Interest Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 5, 2003, 98 hours before - Departed: VCT, Victoria, TX - Destination: LVJ, Pearland, TX - Airport: AXH, Houston Southwest Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 170 total, 65 in this make and model, 65 as pilot in command, 51 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days - Co-pilot; age 37; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review December 5, 2003; seat: right; flight hours: 218 total, 7 in this make and model, 102 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 11 knots - Lowest ceiling: 1,100 ft overcast - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: SGR, 6 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 20040302002949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040302002949A), Mar 2, 2004: Piper PA38112, Richmond, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot was enroute from vct to axh when he encountered very low visibility (below 300 feet). He elected to make an emergency landing in a field rather… ## Other investigations on N2588A (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 LAX79FUQ34](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX79FUQ34), Jun 11, 1979: Piper PA-38 (N2588A), Van Nuys, CA, 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.