# NTSB FTW88LA076: Piper PA-24-400, N8496P, Midland, TX, March 3, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 3, 1988, 14:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Midland, TX
- Location: 31.9973° N, 102.0779° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Midland, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.9973&lon=-102.0779&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 31, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22622
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW88LA076
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22622/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW88LA076

## Probable cause

ENCOUNTER WITH SEVERE TURBULENCE WITHIN TOPS OF CONVECTIVE CLOUDS. LEADING TO THIS WAS THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY EVALUATE THE POTENTIAL DANGER OF THE CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY, WHICH HE CHOSE TO PENETRATE.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - turbulence in clouds (cause)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded (cause)
  - wing,skin - overload
  - landing gear,gear locking mechanism - jammed
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - wheels up landing

## Analysis

THE PLT RPRTD THAT WHILE HE WAS CRUISING AT 13,000 FT ON AN IFR FLT, THE ACFT WAS SKIMMING THE TOPS OF RAGGED CUMULUS BUILD-UPS. HE ESTIMATED THE ACFT WAS APRX 200 TO 300 FT BELOW THE TOP OF ONE SUCH CLOUD WHEN SEVERE TURBULENCE WAS ENCOUNTERED. DURING THE ENCOUNTER, A 1500 TO 2000 FT LOSS OF ALTITUDE OCCURRED & THE ACFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. AFTER THE OCCURRENCE THE PLT NOTED THE 'GEAR UP' LIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED, THE AIRSPEED INDICATOR WAS INOP, & SOME RIVETS WERE POPPED ON THE WINGS. AT THE DESTINATION, HE WAS UNABLE TO EXTEND THE LANDING GEAR WITH EITHER THE NORMAL OR EMERGENCY SYSTEMS. HE THEN DIVERTED TO REDBIRD ARPT & MADE A WHEELS-UP LANDING WHICH RESULTED IN MINIMAL ADDITIONAL DAMAGE. THE PRE-FLT WX BRIEFING CALLED FOR TURBULENCE ALONG THE ROUTE WITH OCCASIONAL LIGHT TO MODERATE ACTIVITY BELOW 8000 FT. THE PLT RPRTD HE EXPERIENCED SMOOTH CONDITIONS PRIOR TO THE ACDNT. AFTER THE ACFT WAS PLACED ON JACKS & THE LANDING GEAR MOTOR RELEASE HANDLE WAS 'JIGGLED,'  THE NORMAL & EMERGENCY GEAR EXTENSION SYSTEMS OPERATED NORMALLY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8496P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8496P-1989-09-25), registration cancelled 1989-09-25, S/N 2676 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-400
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-400](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-400) (registry code 7102408) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 26-76
- Airframe hours: 3060
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-720-A1A 400 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Houtan, Sepahpour
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: ELP, EL PASO, TX
- Destination: DAL, DALLAS, TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: Redbird, runway 31, 5,452 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 2,050 total, 170 in this make and model, 2,050 as pilot in command, 58 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19880303016669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880303016669A), Mar 3, 1988: Piper PA24400, Midland, TX, Substantial damage. Encountered severe turbulence causing structural damage while flying thru top of cumulus cloud. Turbulence forecast

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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