# NTSB FTW90FA062: Piper PA-32-300, N9235Z, Coalgate, OK, February 1, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 31, 1990, 20:29 local (Feb 1, 1990, 02:29 UTC)
- Place: Coalgate, OK
- Coordinates: 34.529445, -96.209739 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5294&lon=-96.2097&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 10, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23008
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW90FA062
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23008/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW90FA062

## Probable cause

FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS BY THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT, AND HIS SUBSEQUENT SPATIAL DISORIENTATION, WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE:  INOPERATIVE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS, DARK NIGHT, ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, UNRELIABLE FLASHLIGHT, THE PILOT'S VISUAL PERCEPTION, AND HIS LACK OF INSTRUMENT EXPERIENCE.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - preflight briefing service - not used, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (cause)
  - instrument light(s) - inoperative (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise
  - flashlight - unreliable (contributing factor)
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS 1 OF 3 USED IN A POLITICAL CAMPAIGN IN OKLAHOMA. AFTER LNDG AT MCALESTER, THE PLT WENT WITH THE CAMPAIGN GROUP WHILE THE OTR 2 PLTS STAYED AT THE ARPT & CHECKED THE WX. AFTER THE GROUP RTRND, FLT TO THE NEXT STOP (IDABEL) WASCANCELED DUE TO BAD WX. THE NON-INST RATED PLT ELECTED TO RTRN AT NGT TO ARDMORE, THOUGH HE HAD SAID THE INST PANEL LGTSWERE INOP. HE TRIED TO OBTAIN BATTERIES FOR HIS FLASHLIGHT AT THE ARPT, BUT WAS UNABLE. THE PLT OF N9235Z DID NOT GET ANFAA WX BRIEFING. HE ASKED 1 OF THE OTR PLTS ABOUT THE WX & WAS TOLD IT WAS BAD AT ARDMORE, BUT WAS BETTER TO THE NORTH &NORTHWEST. AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ACFT FLEW NRLY AN HR BFR IT CRASHED NEAR COALGATE. A PERSON, WHO HEARD THE CRASH, SAID THEVIS WAS POOR & THE NGT WAS VERY DARK; ALSO, HE SAID A STORM OCCURRED SHORTLY AFTER THE PLANE FLEW OVER. IMPACT OCCURRED IN A STEEP, NOSE DOWN, INVERTED ATTITUDE. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT WAS FND. THE 2055 CST WX AT ARDMORE WAS IN PART: 600' OVC, VIS 7 MI WITH LGT RAIN & FOG. THE ACFT WAS FND ON A FARM ON 2/4/90 BY THE LAND OWNER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9235Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9235Z-1991-04-17), registration cancelled 1991-04-17, S/N 3240368 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-300
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32-40368
- Airframe hours: 1985
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1A5 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: Roy E. Stiner
- Registered owner: Stiner, Roy E
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 30, 1990, 2 hours before
- Departed: MLC, MCALESTER, OK
- Destination: 1F0, ARDMORE, OK
- Airport: NONE

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 607 total, 250 in this make and model, 524 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 130° at 12 knots
- Lowest ceiling: 600 ft overcast
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ADM, 51 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 19900131001439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900131001439A), Jan 31, 1990: Piper PA32300, Coalgate, OK, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Departed into IMC at night without panel lights and inop flashlight. Lost control in fog,rain. Crashed inverted.

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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