# NTSB FTW89FA007: Piper PA-31-350, N91BB, Edinburg, TX, October 16, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 16, 1988, 16:35 local (21:35 UTC)
- Place: Edinburg, TX
- Location: 26.3017° N, 98.1633° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Edinburg, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.3017&lon=-98.1633&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 7 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 24, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22749
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW89FA007
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22749/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW89FA007

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, climb - to cruise
  - 1 engine
  - fluid,fuel - contamination (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - water (cause)
  - maintenance,service of aircraft/equipment - improper, fbo personnel (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, climb - to cruise
  - airspeed(vmc) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - spiral - uncontrolled
- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent - uncontrolled
  - all engines
  - fluid,fuel - contamination (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - water (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - wheels up landing - performed, pilot in command

## Analysis

ACFT EXPERIENCED A DOUBLE ENG FAILURE. PLT STATED THAT IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE LEFT ENG FAILED, IN CLIMB TO CRUISE, THE ACFT ROLLED LEFT, THE STALL WARNING ACTIVATED, AND THE ACFT ENTERED A LEFT SPIRAL. THE RT ENG FAILED DURING THE TWO-TURN SPIRAL. PLT'S ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE ENGS WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. PLT SUBSEQUENTLY MADE A SUCCESSFUL GEAR UP EMERG LNDG ON A ROAD, HOWEVER, THE ACFT WAS DESTROYED BY POST-CRASH FIRE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT BOTH ENG FUEL SYSTEMS WERE CONTAMINATED WITH WATER AND DISSOLVED SOLIDS. ACFT HAD JUST BEEN REFUELED AT A FOREIGN AIRPORT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N91BB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N91BB-1989-03-14), registration cancelled 1989-03-14, S/N 31-141, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31-350
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31-310](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-310) (registry code 7103102) (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: 31-141
- Airframe hours: 6373
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-A 350 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Texas Air Charter
- Registered owner: James Cosby & William Benson
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 30, 1988, 50 hours before
- Departed: MFE, MCALLEN, TX
- Destination: HOU, HOUSTON, TX
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,925 total, 195 in this make and model, 2,696 as pilot in command, 42 in the last 90 days, 36 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 135° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 64 °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 19881016069759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881016069759A), Oct 16, 1988: Piper PA31350, Edinburg, TX, Destroyed. Lost power both engines. Landed gear up on a road and aircraft burned. Fuel was contaminated. Failed to lower gear.

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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