# NTSB FTW87FA184: Piper PA-23-250, N5998Y, Imperial, TX, August 1, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 1, 1987, 14:15 local (19:15 UTC)
- Place: Imperial, TX
- Coordinates: 31.270936, -102.690231 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.2709&lon=-102.6902&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 2 serious, 3 minor
- Status: Completed, report March 31, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22265
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW87FA184
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22265/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW87FA184

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command
  - aircraft weight and balance - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - low pass - intentional, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - water (contributing factor)
  - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PLT ELECTED TO FLY LOW OVER A RESERVOIR. HE STATED THAT AS HE BEGAN A PASS, NOT FAR FROM THE WATER'S EDGE, THE ACFT ENCTRD A SINK. HE SAID HE ' . . . CHECKED POWER, ALL OK, PLANE JUST SEEMED TO LOSE ALL LIFT . . .'  SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT STRUCK THE WATER, CRASHED & BEGAN SINKING. FIVE OCCUPANTS EGRESSED FROM THE ACFT; THE 6TH RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES. WITNESSES SAW THE ACFT FLYING AT A VERY LOW ALT OVER THE WATER BEFORE THE PLANE CRASHED. THEY RPRTD THAT ON PREVIOUS OCCASIONS, THE PLT HAD MADE LOW PASSES OVER THE RESERVOIR IN THE SAME MANNER. THE PLT'S LAST MED CERT WAS DATED 11/16/84; THE ACFT'S LAST ANNUAL INSPN WAS DATED 8/15/84. DRG A WEIGHT & BALANCE CHECK, THE ACFT'S CG WAS ESTIMATED TO HAVE BEEN .2 INCH BEHIND THE AFT LIMIT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5998Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5998Y-2014-10-29), registration cancelled 2014-10-29, S/N 27-3172, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23-250
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 27-3172
- Airframe hours: 4497
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-C4B5 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Albert L. Gandy
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 15, 1984, 129 hours before
- Departed: GRAND FALLS, TX

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; seat: left; flight hours: 375 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MAF, 75 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 19870801040259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870801040259A), Aug 1, 1987: Piper PA23250, Imperial, TX, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Caught a wing in the water while buzzing a lake. Aircraft cartwheeled and sank. Pilot drank a beer prior to flight

## Other investigations on N5998Y (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 DEN80DQA10](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN80DQA10), Nov 10, 1979: Piper PA-23 (N5998Y), Ruidoso, NM, minor 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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