# NTSB FTW85FA015: Piper PA-30, N66CF, Port Mansfield, TX, October 15, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 15, 1984, 00:00 local (05:00 UTC)
- Place: Port Mansfield, TX
- Coordinates: 26.550045, -97.429046 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.5500&lon=-97.4290&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21498
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW85FA015
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21498/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW85FA015

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, unknown
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

ACFT CRASHED IN A MARSH AREA DURING A NIGHT RECURRENCY TRAINING FLT. ACFT APPEARED TO HAVE CONTACTED THE TERRAIN IN AN UNCONTROLLED 90 DEG LEFT BANK. PIC RECEIVED HIS LAST MEDICAL CERTIFICATE ON 5/7/70. INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED PIC WAS UNDER MEDICATION FOR ADVANCED CASE OF SUGAR DIABETES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N66CF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N66CF-1985-06-04), registration cancelled 1985-06-04, S/N 30-1922 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30
- Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 30-1922
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-320-C1A 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: E. H. Vieh
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: HRL, HARLINGEN, TX
- Destination: HRL, HARLINGEN, TX

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 71; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, expired; seat: left

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 140° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,300 ft broken
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: HRL, 20 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 19841015056309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841015056309A), Oct 15, 1984: Piper PA30, Port Mansfield, TX, Destroyed. Crashed at night in marshy area. Aircraft totally disintegrated. Pilot had advanced diabetes. Cause undetermined.

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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