# NTSB FTW82DA038: Piper PA-34, N55489, Tomball, TX, January 9, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: January 9, 1982, 17:45 local (23:45 UTC)
- Place: Tomball, TX
- Coordinates: 30.090682, -95.609535 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0907&lon=-95.6095&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 9, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 72830
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW82DA038
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/72830/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW82DA038

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, taxi - to takeoff
  - airport facilities,taxiway condition - foreign substance covered (cause)
  - airport facilities,taxiway marking - inadequate (cause)
  - airport facilities,taxiway lighting - unavailable (cause)
  - airport operations - inadequate, airport personnel (cause)

## Analysis

AFTER BEING CLEARED BY THE TOWER TO TAXI ONTO THE RUNWAY FROM AN UNLIGHTED TAXIWAY THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR FELL INTO A HOLE. CONSTRUCTION WORK WAS BEING DONE IN THE AREA AND NO WARNING LIGHTS HAD BEEN ERECTED. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE TOWER PERSONNEL HAD TOLD THE CONSTRUCTION CREW TO PUT UP MARKERS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BUT THAT THEY FAILED TO DO SO.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N55489](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N55489-1997-07-25), registration cancelled 1997-07-25, S/N 347350222 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34
- Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200) (registry code 7103405) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 34-7350222
- Airframe hours: 2274
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-CLEG 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Charles Plunkett
- Registered owner: Charles Plunkett
- Departed: DWH, TOMBALL, TX
- Destination: DWH, TOMBALL, TX
- Airport: DWH, David Wayne Hooks, runway 17, 5,340 × 110 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: unknown, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 5,200 total, 60 in this make and model, 4,000 as pilot in command, 78 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 340° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Temperature: 158 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DWH

## 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 19820109000439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820109000439A), Jan 9, 1982: Piper PA34200, Tomball, TX, Substantial damage. Wheel of aircraft fell into hole during taxi for takeoff. Construction site was not marked.

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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