# NTSB FTW83FA424: Partenavia P68C, N29561, Plainview, TX, September 11, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 11, 1983, 14:25 local (19:25 UTC)
- Place: Plainview, TX
- Coordinates: 34.190898, -101.719528 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1909&lon=-101.7195&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 20762
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW83FA424
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20762/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW83FA424

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, maneuvering
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in aircraft's ability, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - wing - overload (cause)
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - wing - failure,total (contributing factor)
  - wing - separation (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering

## Analysis

THE PLT WAS EXECUTING A HIGH SPEED PASS OVER THE RWY AT ABOUT 250 FT AGL. THE PLT THEN BEGAN A RAPID PULL-UP & BOTH WINGS SEPARATED JUST OUTBOARD OF THE ENG NACELLES. RECONSTRUCTION OF THE SEQUENCE FROM A VIDEOTAPE REVEALED THAT THE ACFT'S SPEED AT THE TIME OF THE WING SEPARATIONS WAS 220 KTS. VNE FOR THE ACFT IS 193 KTS. IT WAS CALCULATED THAT, AT 220 KTS & AN 8 DEG NOSE-UP PITCH, THE 'G' LOAD AT THE TIME OF THE WING SEPARATIONS WOULD HAVE BEEN 8.3 G'S.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N29561](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N29561-1985-01-01), registration cancelled 1985-01-01, S/N 266, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PARTENAVIA P68C
- Registry model: [Partenavia P.68C](https://openairdocs.org/model/partenavia-p-68c) (registry code 6780105) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming AEIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-360-series) (registry code 41522, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 266
- Airframe hours: 342
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1B6 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Windward Aviation Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 17, 1983, 37 hours before
- Airport: PVW, Hale County

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,800 ft broken
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LBB, 45 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 19830911047799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830911047799A), Sep 11, 1983: Parten P68C, Plainview, TX, Destroyed. Pilot overstressed aircraft and wings separated just outboard of engine nacelles during aerobatic maneuver.

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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