# NTSB FTW87FA029: Piper PA-28R-200, N4475F, Petersburg, TX, December 7, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 6, 1986, 18:26 local (Dec 7, 1986, 00:26 UTC)
- Place: Petersburg, TX
- Coordinates: 33.869712, -101.590805 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8697&lon=-101.5908&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22222
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW87FA029
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22222/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW87FA029

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - clouds (cause)
  - preflight planning/preparation - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (cause)
  - light condition - night (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, missed approach (ifr)
  - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - continued, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
  - improper initial training, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

ACFT IMPACTED IN A 95 DEG NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE FOLLOWING A LOSS OF CONTROL IN IMC CONDITIONS WHILE THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PVT PLT WAS BEING VECTORED TO THE FINAL APP CRS. PLT HAD FILED IFR AND HAD EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTIES THRU OUT THE FLT. AS HE WAS GIVEN VECTORS FOR SEQUENCING HIS FLYING BECAME ERRATIC AND HE COMPLAINED OF PITOT ICE AND INSTRUMENT PROBLEMS. ICING LVL WAS WELL ABOVE HIS ALT AND POST-ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT ALL INSTRUMENTS WERE WORKING NORMALLY. HIS DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEMS WAS INCONSISTENT WITH THE WAY THE 2 SEPARATE INSTRUMENT SYSTEMS OPERATE. THE PLT HAD RECENTLY FAILED HIS INSTRUMENT WRITTEN AND HAD A TOTAL OF 39 HRS SIMULATED INSTRUMENT TIME. EVIDENCE ALSO REVEALED HE WAS OPERATING THE ACFT WITH AN INOP ADF AND DEFICIENT VHF NAV RADIOS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4475F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4475F-2014-12-17), registration cancelled 2014-12-17, S/N 28R-7635409, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-200
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28R7635409
- Airframe hours: 1923
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-CIC 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Glen A.Dunn
- Registered owner: Glen A Dunn
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 14, 1986, 144 hours before
- Departed: APA, DENVER, CO
- Destination: LBB, LUBBOCK, TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: LBB, Lubbock International, runway 17R, 11,500 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 850 total, 401 in this make and model, 774 as pilot in command, 38 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/bright
- Wind: 170° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 700 ft broken
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LBB, 15 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 19861206085759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861206085759A), Dec 6, 1986: Piper PA28R200, Petersburg, TX, Destroyed. The aircraft hit the ground out of control. Suspect VFR pilot became disoriented or had a medical problem.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.