- Date
- August 7, 1988, 20:55 local (Aug 8, 1988, 01:55 UTC)
- Place
- Edna, TX
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N8355LPiper PA-32RT-300
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report June 11, 1990
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19880807034929A
- Case key
- 22672
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
A delay in initiation of the go-around during the pilot's second attempt to land in the dark night conditions. Contributing to the accident was the runway closure due to construction, which resulted in no runway lights illuminated, and the fact that the pilot did not receive the appropriate NOTAM.
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
Upon arrival at the uncontrolled destination airport, the pilot made a visual approach and determined that the 'lights looked different than they normally did.' Therefore a go-around was initiated and a second approach commenced. Late in the second approach the pilot realized that he was about to land in a culvert and applied full power, but was unable to avoid the collision with the terrain. Although the NDB and rotating beacon were operating, the runway had been closed since 7/19/88 for construction. The runway lights were not illuminated for the attempted landing in dark night VFR conditions. Impact occurred between the runway and a parallel taxiway. A NOTAM was issued, however, during the weather brief the pilot did not specify his destination. Therefore, it was not received.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8355L
- Reported as
- Piper PA-32RT-300 (PA-32RT-30)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 32R-8129051
- Engine
- Lycoming TIO-540-S1AD, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- William M. Bruce
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 8, 1988 · 142 hours before
- Departed
- NONE · Fort Stockton, TX
- Destination
- 26R
- Airport
- 26R · Jackson County, runway 14, 3,400 × 65 ft, asphalt
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
- 47
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,230 total · 303 in this make and model · 1,200 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 170° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 79 °F
- 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.
Other investigations on N8355L · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.