- Date
- March 30, 1987, 12:57 local (18:57 UTC)
- Place
- Marlin, TX
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N8191VPiper PA-28-181
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 7, 1989
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Safety recommendations
- Yes
- FAA report
- 19870330007819A
- Case key
- 22237
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The acft had been involved in pipeline patrol throughout its history of 7490 flt hrs. Just before the acdnt, the acft was observed in straight & lvl flt along a pipeline right-of-way. According to witnesses, the acft was at low alt when a wing separated & the acft plunged to the ground. The left wing was fnd 588' from the main wreckage. An investigation revealed it had sepd at the wing root from fatigue failure. The fatigue had originated near one of the outboard carry-through attachment bolt holes.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8191V
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-181
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-8090115
- Airframe hours
- 7,490
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A4M, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial observation · Part 91
- Operator
- Griffin Pipeline Patrol Co.
- Registered owner
- M. E. Griffin
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 15, 1986 · 1,082 hours before
- Departed
- F18 · Cleburne, TX
- Destination
- CXO · Conroe, TX
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 45
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 9,144 total · 2,500 in this make and model · 7,630 as pilot in command · 352 in the last 90 days · 127 in the last 30 days · 8 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 20 knots, gusting 27
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 46 °F, dew point 16 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- ACT, 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.