FTW88LA014

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-23-250 · Brownsville, TX · October 25, 1987

Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal report

Date: October 25, 1987, 04:10 local (10:10 UTC)
Place: Brownsville, TX
Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
Damage: Substantial damage
Phase of flight: Initial climb
Aircraft: N5606YPiper PA-23-250
Weather: Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
Status: Completed · report June 16, 1989
Report: Approved by Office Director
FAA report: 19871025060559A
Case key: 22588

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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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.

In flight encounter with weatherTakeoff - initial climb

Weather condition - low ceiling

Weather condition - fog

Flight into known adverse weather - intentionalPilot in commandCause

Loss of control - in flightTakeoff - initial climb

Ifr procedure - disregardedPilot in commandCause

Diverted attentionPilot in commandCause

Proper climb rate - not maintainedPilot in commandCause

Aircraft weight and balance - exceededPilot in commandFactor

Inadequate trainingPilot in commandFactor

Lack of total instrument timePilot in commandFactor

In flight collision with terrain/waterTakeoff - initial climb

Analysis

During initial climb into IFR conditions, the non-multiengine, non-instrument rated mexican certificated private pilot diverted his attention from flying the aircraft to adjust the mixture control on the left engine. The aircraft impacted the ground and cartwheeled, coming to rest abt 200 ft after initial impact. Both engs separated from the wings which had both separated from the fuselage. Investigation revealed that the acft was 600 lbs ovr max gross wt.

Aircraft

Registration: N5606Y
Reported as: Piper PA-23-250
Category: Airplane
Serial number: 27-2714
Airframe hours: 3,900
Engine: Lycoming IO-540-C, 250 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage: Substantial damage
Flight: Business · Part 91
Registered owner: Future Corp.
Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
Last inspection: 100 hour · October 1, 1987 · 91 hours before
Departed: BRO · Brownsville, TX
Destination: Mexico
Airport: BRO · Brownsville Arpt, runway 13, 7,400 × 150 ft, concrete

N5606YRegistration cancelled Jul 19, 2013 · Piper PA-23-250S/N 27-2714 · Built 1964 Airframe modelPiper PA-23-250 Engine modelLycoming TI0-540 seriesTurbo-prop

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role: Pilot
Age: 26
Certificate: Private
Airplane ratings: Single-engine land
Medical: Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat: Left
Flight hours: 10,502 total · 700 in this make and model · 60 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions: Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
Wind: 340° at 4 knots
Lowest ceiling: 200 ft
Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 72 °F
Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Observed at: BRO

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 19871025060559APiper PA23250 · Brownsville, TXLost control on initial climbout in IMC. Crashed 1000 feet left of runway. Pilots not rated IFR nor MEL. Over grossOct 25, 1987 · N5606Y · Substantial damage