# NTSB FTW82FRG26: Piper PA-24-260, N8988P, Kingsville, TX, March 18, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: March 18, 1982, 00:00 local (06:00 UTC)
- Place: Kingsville, TX
- Coordinates: 27.499004, -97.860237 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.4990&lon=-97.8602&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 18, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71275
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW82FRG26
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71275/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW82FRG26

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, takeoff - initial climb
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - haze/smoke (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - initiated, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - flight/nav instruments,attitude gyro - dirty(foggy) (contributing factor)
  - flight/nav instruments,attitude gyro - false indication (contributing factor)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb

## Analysis

ON 3/17/82 A WX BRIEFER ADVISED THE PILOT ALL OF TEXAS WOULD BE UNDER INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITONS ON THE MORNINGOF 3/18/82. THERE WAS NO RECORD OF A FLT PLAN FILED BY THE PILOT OF N8988P AND THE DEPARTURE TIME FROM KINGSVILLE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE WAS FOUND THE NEXT MORNING 1.5 MILES SOUTHEAST OF THE AIRPORT IN A PLOWEDFIELD. EXAMINATION OF THE VACUUM DRIVEN ATTITUDE GYRO AFTER THE ACCIDENT REVEALED EVIDENCE OF PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION. TESTING REVEALED THAT THE GYRO WOULD NOT ERECT PROPERLY DUE TO DIRTY SPINDLE BEARINGS. NO OTHER PREIMPACT MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES WERE FOUND. THE PILOT OF N8988P LOGGED A TOTAL OF 2.6 HOURS OF INSTRUMENT FLT IN THE SIX MONTHS PREVIOUS TO THE ACCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8988P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8988P-1993-03-10), registration cancelled 1993-03-10, S/N 244448 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-260
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-260) (registry code 7102406) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24-4448
- Airframe hours: 1486
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-D4A5 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Jas L. Bissett
- Registered owner: Jas L. Bissett
- Departed: TKB, KINGSVILLE, TX
- Destination: CORPUS CHRISTI, TX
- Airport: TKB, Kleberg County, runway 13, 6,000 × 0 ft

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 1,887 total, 238 in this make and model, 1,437 as pilot in command, 67 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Observed at: SAT

## 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 19820318019149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820318019149A), Mar 18, 1982: Piper PA24260, West Kingsville, TX, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Aircraft crashed out of control on night takeoff. Elevator trim full up position. Attitude gyro fouled with dirt.

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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