# NTSB FTW88LA166: Piper PA-28-140, N4683R, Fort Worth, TX, September 29, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 28, 1988, 19:15 local (Sep 29, 1988, 00:15 UTC)
- Place: Fort Worth, TX
- Coordinates: 32.709583, -97.340141 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7096&lon=-97.3401&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 16, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22684
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW88LA166
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22684/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW88LA166

## Sequence of events

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

- Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - remedial action - delayed, other crewmember (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing
  - object - fence (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PVT PLT (PIC) WAS FLYING WITH AN INSTRUCTOR (CFI), WHO HAD AN EXPIRED MEDICAL CERTIFICATE. THE CFI STATED HE WAS FLYING AS A SAFETY PLT ONLY. THE PIC EXTENDED HIS DOWNWIND LEG & SUBSEQUENTLY WAS LOW & SLOW ON A LONG FINAL APCH. HE RAISED THE NOSE OF THE ACFT TO CLEAR SOME POWER LINES, THEN THE ACFT DEVELOPED A SINK RATE THAT THE PIC WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT WITH FULL POWER. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN SHORT OF THE RWY, HIT A FENCE & WAS DAMAGED. THE CFI SAID HE HAD APPLIED FULL POWER, BUT WAS TOO LATE TO RECOVER BEFORE TOUCHING DOWN. THE PIC HAD ONLY 1 HR IN THIS MAKE & MODEL & WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH ITS GLIDE & LANDING CHARACTERISTICS. ALSO, HE SAID HE WAS SLIGHTLY DISTRACTED BY A TRAIN WHICH WAS APCHG FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION & WAS PASSING THE ARPT ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RWY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4683R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4683R-2012-08-27), registration cancelled 2012-08-27, S/N 28-21442 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-21442
- Airframe hours: 1887
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2A 140 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Willie C. Osmond
- Registered owner: Osmon, Willie C
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 14, 1987, 10 hours before
- Departed: 9F9
- Airport: 9F9, Sycamore, runway 17, 3,950 × 32 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 116 total, 1 in this make and model, 81 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 180° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: FTW, 18 nm away

## 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 19880928041829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880928041829A), Sep 28, 1988: Piper PA28140, Fort Worth, TX, Substantial damage. Pilot being checked out allowed high sink rate on final and hit a fence landing short. Safety pilot acted too late.

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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