FTW89LA139

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-24-260 · Llano, TX · July 15, 1989

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report

Date: July 15, 1989, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC)
Place: Llano, TX
Injuries: 4 uninjured
Damage: Substantial damage
Phase of flight: Approach
Aircraft: N9183PPiper PA-24-260
Weather: Visual (VMC) · Day
Status: Completed · report August 22, 1990
Report: Approved by Office Director
FAA report: 19890715022519A
Case key: 22898

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's inadvertent closing of the mixture control while his attention was diverted to the landing gear cycling. The engine subsequently quit followed by a forced landing and collision with trees.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanicalApproach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final

Landing gear,gear indicating system - erratic

Diverted attentionPilot in commandFactor

Mixture control - closedCause

Mixture - inadvertent usePilot in commandCause

Diverted attentionPilot in command

Fluid,fuel - starvation

Forced landingApproach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final

On ground/water collision with objectLanding - roll

Object - tree(s)Factor

Main gear collapsedLanding - roll

Aircraft

Registration: N9183P
Reported as: Piper PA-24-260
Category: Airplane
Serial number: 24-4673
Airframe hours: 2,446
Engine: Lycoming IO-540-D4A5, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage: Substantial damage
Flight: Personal · Part 91
Operator: Clyde E. Thomas, Jr.
Registered owner: Thomas, Clyde E Jr.
Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
Last inspection: Annual · April 26, 1988 · 16 hours before
Departed: 69R
Airport: 6R9

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role: Pilot
Age: 75
Certificate: Private
Airplane ratings: Single-engine land
Instrument ratings: Airplane
Medical: Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat: Left
Flight hours: 1,229 total · 1,229 in this make and model · 1,229 as pilot in command

Weather

Conditions: Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind: 180° at 10 knots
Visibility: 20 statute miles
Lowest ceiling: None
Temperature: 100 °F

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 19890715022519APiper PA24 · Llano, TXUnsafe gear lights. Extended manual engine lost power. Wing hit tree. Crashed. Had pulled idle cut off by mistake.Jul 15, 1989 · N9183P · Substantial damage