# NTSB FTW88FA160: Cessna 170A, N9101A, El Paso, TX, September 3, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 3, 1988, 15:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: El Paso, TX
- Location: 31.7587° N, 106.4869° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of El Paso, TX, within about 9 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.7587&lon=-106.4869&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 10, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22561
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW88FA160
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22561/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW88FA160

## Probable cause

PILOT'S IMPAIRMENT DUE TO THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - impairment(alcohol), pilot in command (cause)
  - low pass - performed, pilot in command
  - maneuver - initiated, pilot in command
  - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE FLT WAS RPRTD TO BE FOR A BIRD HUNTING EXCURSION. TWO WITNESSES RPRTD THEY SAW AN ACFT (MATCHING THE DESCRIPTION OF N9101A) FLYING ABOUT 50 TO 75 FT AGL & MANEUVERING. NO KNOWN WITNESSES SAW THE PLANE CRASH. WHEN IT DID NOT RETURN, A SEARCH WAS INITIATED. THE ACFT WAS FND THE NEXT MORNING WHERE IT HAD CRASHED ON NEAR LEVEL, DESERT TERRAIN. AN EXAM REVEALED THE ACFT HAD COLLIDED WITH THE GND IN A STEEP LEFT BANK, SLIGHT NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE ENG HIT THE GND ABOUT 33 FT BEYOND WHERE THE LEFT WING TIP 1ST MADE CONTACT. THE ACFT THEN TUMBLED & CAME TO REST WITH EXTENSIVE DAMAGE AFTER TRAVELING ANOTHER 54 FT. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THE PROP WAS ROTATING AT IMPACT & THE PROP BLADES WERE TWISTED & CURLED. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. FOUR SHOT GUNS WERE FND IN THE REAR OF THE ACFT & SHOT GUN SHELLS WERE FND THRU-OUT THE WRECKAGE AREA. DRG A TOXICOLOGY CHECK OF THE PLT'S BLOOD, AN ALCOHOL LVL OF 0.152% WAS NOTED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9101A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9101A-2013-10-21), registration cancelled 2013-10-21, S/N 18860, built 1949 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 170A
- Registry model: [Cessna 170A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170a) (registry code 2072304) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C145 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (registry code 17012, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18860
- Airframe hours: 4007
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Peterson, James R.
- Registered owner: Dennis Raymond Peterson
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 20, 1987, 70 hours before
- Departed: TX04, EL PASO, TX
- Destination: TX04

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, expired; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,000 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19880903036799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880903036799A), Sep 3, 1988: Cessna STC170, El Paso, TX, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Observed buzzing area, steep pullup and flying 30 ft AGL. Struck wing on ground and cartwheeled.

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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