# NTSB FTW89FA127: Piper PA-12, N3353M, Sanger, TX, July 3, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 3, 1989, 16:45 local (21:45 UTC)
- Place: Sanger, TX
- Coordinates: 33.360084, -97.169967 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3601&lon=-97.1700&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 10, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22775
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW89FA127
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22775/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW89FA127

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL AT LOW ALTITUDE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

WITNESSES OBSERVED THE ACFT IN WHAT THEY CHARACTEREZED AS A HIGH PERFORMANCE TAKEOFF. THEY REPORTED AN INITIAL DECK ANGLE OF ABOUT 25 DEG WHICH SHALLOWED TO ABOUT 10 DEG AS THE ACFT CLIMBED THRU 200' AGL. WITH NO APPRECIABLE ACCELERATION, AT ABOUT 300', THE ACFT ENTERED A LEFT BANK AS IF TO TURN CROSSWIND. AS THE ACFT WAS TURNING, IT ENTERED A STEEP DESCENT & CRASHED. THE WIND WAS FROM THE NORTHEAST AT ABOUT 10 TO 15 KTS. THE PLT HAD LOGGED ABOUT 7 HRS IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF ACFT. NO EVIDENCE OF PRE-IMPACT FAILURE OF THE ACFT OR ITS SYSTEMS WAS FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3353M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3353M-2012-10-03), registration cancelled 2012-10-03, S/N 12-2050, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-12
- Registry model: [Piper PA-12](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12) (registry code 7101202) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 12-2050
- Airframe hours: 994
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 165 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: North Texas Flyers Association
- Registered owner: North Texas Flyers Assoc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 12, 1989, 24 hours before
- Departed: NONE
- Destination: NONE
- Airport: Bar Vk Ranch, runway 36, 3,100 × 100 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 18,250 total, 7 in this make and model, 17,258 as pilot in command, 147 in the last 90 days, 63 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 30° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: FTW, 30 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 19890703019389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890703019389A), Jul 3, 1989: Piper STCPA12, Sanger, TX, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Climbed out nose high, began a turn and entered a flat spin to ground impact. Temperature 80.

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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