# NTSB FTW88LA148: Piper PA-32RT-300, N8355L, Edna, TX, August 8, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 7, 1988, 20:55 local (Aug 8, 1988, 01:55 UTC)
- Place: Edna, TX
- Coordinates: 28.969923, -96.639503 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.9699&lon=-96.6395&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 11, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22672
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW88LA148
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22672/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW88LA148

## 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

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, go-around (vfr)
  - light condition - dark night
  - preflight planning/preparation - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - unavailable (contributing factor)
  - notams - not received, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - go-around - delayed, pilot in command (cause)

## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8355L-2017-03-21), registration cancelled 2017-03-21, S/N 32R-8129051, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32RT-300 (PA-32RT-30)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-301T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-301t) (registry code 7103220) (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: 32R-8129051
- Engines: 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19880807034929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880807034929A), Aug 7, 1988: Piper PA32RT300, Edna, TX, Substantial damage. Landed in a ditch along side of closed unlighted runway at dark night and struck a culvert. Airport notamed closed.

## Other investigations on N8355L (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 FTW01LA068](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW01LA068), Feb 17, 2001: Piper PA32-R-301T (N8355L), Haslet, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: the improper installation of the oil filter bypass valve by an unknown person, which resulted in the loss of engine oil and subsequent loss of total power during a normal descent. A contributing…

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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