# NTSB FTW89FA012: Piper 601B, N60819, Houston, TX, November 2, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 2, 1988, 03:02 local (09:02 UTC)
- Place: Houston, TX
- Location: 29.7633° N, 95.3633° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Houston, TX, within about 14 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7633&lon=-95.3633&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 25, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22750
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW89FA012
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22750/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW89FA012

## Probable cause

PILOT'S DECISION TO FLY THE APPROACH VISUALLY WITH OUTSIDE REFERENCE TO THE LIGHTS AND INADVERTENTLY DESCENDING BELOW THE DECISION HEIGHT OFF THE PROPER GLIDE PATH.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - decision height - below, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper glidepath - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH POWER LINES AND TREES WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH. THE REPORTED WEATHER IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT WAS AN INDEFINITE CEILING ZERO, SKY OBSCURED, AND VISIBILITY 1/16 OF A MILE IN FOG. NO PREIMPACT FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS OF THE AIRCRAFT WERE FOUND. THE PILOT HAD DIVERTED FROM HIS INTENDED DESTINATION DUE TO FOG.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N60819](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N60819-1990-06-08), registration cancelled 1990-06-08, S/N 6107598062149 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER 601B
- Registry model: [Piper AEROSTAR 601](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-aerostar-601) (registry code 7106010) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 0759-8062149
- Airframe hours: 3202
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-51AS 290 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Conroe Aviation Services Inc.
- Registered owner: Conroe Aviatio Service Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 1, 1988, 3 hours before
- Departed: BTR, BATON ROUGE, LA
- Destination: CXO, CONROE, TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: IAH, Houston Intercontinental, runway 14L, 12,000 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,887 total, 190 in this make and model, 2,544 as pilot in command, 218 in the last 90 days, 62 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 220° at 5 knots
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: IAH

## 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 19881102050079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881102050079A), Nov 2, 1988: Piper PA60601, Houston, TX, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Struck powerline in dense fog at night and crashed into trees. Had descended below glide slope.

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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