# NTSB FTW85FA140: Piper PA-28-180, N7012W, Gilmer, TX, March 7, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 6, 1985, 21:30 local (Mar 7, 1985, 03:30 UTC)
- Place: Gilmer, TX
- Coordinates: 32.730403, -94.940269 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7304&lon=-94.9403&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21533
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW85FA140
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21533/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW85FA140

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,visual apch slope ind(vasi) - unavailable (contributing factor)
  - proper alignment - not attained, copilot/second pilot (contributing factor)
  - visual/aural perception, copilot/second pilot (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, copilot/second pilot (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

AN ASSOCIATE OF THE PLT/OWNER STATED THAT HE HAD DEPARTED AT ABOUT 2030 CST TO GET SOME NIGHT PRACTICE PRIOR TO GETTING A DAY VFR RESTRICTION REMOVED FROM HIS PVT LICENSE. REPORTEDLY, THE OWNER/PLT & AN INSTRUCTOR (CFI) WERE INTENDING TO FLY TOGETHER & PRACTICE TOUCH-&-GO LANDINGS. THERE WERE NO KNOWN WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT. THE ACFT WAS FOUND ABOUT 4 HRS AFTER IT HAD CRASHED. AN EXAM OF THE CRASH SITE REVEALED THE ACFT HAD COLLIDED WITH 70 FT TREES NEAR THE APCH END OF RWY 35. IMPACT OCCURRED IN A SLIGHT RIGHT BANK & SLIGHT NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE, AS IF THE ACFT WAS ON A BASE TO FINAL TURN, BUT TOO CLOSE IN & TOO LOW. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION. THE CFI, WHO WAS ACTING AS A SAFETY PLT, RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES & HAD NO MEMORY OF WHAT OCCURRED DURING THE FLT. THERE WERE TALL TREES NEAR THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE RWY WHICH MAY HAVE OBSCURED THE RWY LIGHTS WHEN VIEWED FROM THE EAST OR SOUTHEAST.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7012W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7012W-1989-12-22), registration cancelled 1989-12-22, S/N 28689 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-689
- Airframe hours: 3159
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Robert J. Woods
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 28, 1984, 65 hours before
- Departed: 4FA
- Airport: 4F4, Gilmer-Upshur, runway 35, 3,000 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 23; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 781 total, 67 in this make and model, 647 as pilot in command, 43 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 90° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: GGG, 25 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 19850306007989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850306007989A), Mar 6, 1985: Piper PA28180, Gilmer, TX, Destroyed. Impacted trees on final approach at night. Night restriction to be lifted on left seat pilot. Aircraft was too low.

## Other investigations on N7012W (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 SEA68D0133](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA68D0133), Jul 26, 1967: Piper PA-28 (N7012W), Port Angeles, WA, 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.

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