# NTSB FTW90DQG01: Senior Aerosport/Paet PJ 260, N260LP, Hereford, TX, December 25, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: December 25, 1989, 17:15 local (23:15 UTC)
- Place: Hereford, TX
- Coordinates: 34.82077, -102.389137 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8208&lon=-102.3891&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report June 25, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22963
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW90DQG01
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22963/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW90DQG01

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE OBSTACLE CLEARANCE ON THE APPROACH TO LANDING. A FACTOR WAS THE POWER POLE JUST SHORT OF THE END OF THE RUNWAY.

## Sequence of events

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

- Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - proper glidepath - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - object - pole (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE AIRCRAFT WAS APPROACHING TO LAND AT A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP THAT HAD POWER POLES ALONG THE APPROACH PATH. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD MISJUDGED THE OBSTACLE CLEARANCE AND THOUGHT HE HAD PASSED THE LAST OF THE POLES WHEN HE INITIATED A DESCENT TO THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A 30 FOOT POWER POLE LOCATED JUST PRIOR TO THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE THEN DESCENDED IN AN ESTIMATED 60 DEGREE NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE TO TERRAIN IMPACT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N260LP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N260LP-1990-02-15), registration cancelled 1990-02-15, S/N 30 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SENIOR AEROSPORT/PAET PJ 260
- Registry model: [Paetzold Larry SENIOR AEROSPORTD260](https://openairdocs.org/model/paetzold-larry-senior-aerosportd260) (registry code 05676GJ) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 30
- Airframe hours: 50
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470-S 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Paetzold, Lawrence E.
- Registered owner: Larry Paetzold
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, March 8, 1989, 50 hours before
- Departed: NONE
- Airport: NONE, Paetzold, runway 35, 3,000 × 40 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: rear; flight hours: 3,500 total, 55 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 18 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: AMA, 40 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 19891225052899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891225052899A), Dec 25, 1989: Amtr AEROSPORT10, Hereford, TX, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Collided with upper support beam of powerline while landing on a Private strip. Aircraft burned on ground impact.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.