- Date
- March 4, 1990, 12:45 local (19:45 UTC)
- Place
- Fabens, TX
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 1 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N5354PPiper PA-24-180
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 17, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19900304003119A
- Case key
- 23013
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during a takeoff with less than full power resulting in a stall. Contributing factors were the pilot's failure to lean the mixture to compensate for the high density altitude, and the gross improper, inadequate maintenance that had been performed on the engine resulting in an unairworthy engine.
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.
Analysis
After liftoff, the airplane appeared to stop climbing at about 90-100 ft AGL; its wings rocked side-to-side, and it then pitched nose down into the ground. The engine was heard until impact. Mixture control found in full rich position; density altitude aprx 5,000 ft. oil stain found near prop governor; AD 90-04-06 and Lycoming sb no. 488, prop gov line & elbow fitting, ncw. Engine teardown showed prop gov screen blocked with numerous contaminants; metallic flakes on oil filter; carb body dirty; carb float attach pin worn; plugs showed rich fuel condition; mag timing 3 deg off; intake/exhaust rocker arms improperly installed; piston rings worn beyond life limits; no.2 cyl top ring broken; numerous rod caps & bearings installed backwards; all crank pins worn beyond service limits; all main bearings worn beyond service limits. Serial number on data plate did not match case number of the engine. Airplane was purchased 1/23/90 by the pilot.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5354P
- Reported as
- Piper PA-24-180
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 24-402
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A1A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Rufus C. Cain
- Destination
- 9F0 · Dublin, TX
- Airport
- E35 · Fabens, runway 26, 4,200 × 60 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 56
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 745 total · 17 in this make and model · 690 as pilot in command · 22 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 110° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 68 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- ELP, 20 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.