# NTSB FTW90FA079: Piper PA-38-112, N2456P, Grand Prairie, TX, March 8, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 8, 1990, 07:22 local (13:22 UTC)
- Place: Grand Prairie, TX
- Coordinates: 32.730537, -96.999961 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7305&lon=-97.0000&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 12, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23014
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW90FA079
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23014/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW90FA079

## Probable cause

THE CFI PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED, AND THE RESULTANT INADVERTENT STALL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE EXISTING LOW CEILING.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - performed, pilot in command(cfi)
  - vfr flight into imc - performed, pilot in command(cfi)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE SCHEDULED AIRPLANE HAD A DEAD BATTERY AND THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR TOOK AN AIRPLANE THAT WAS NOT SCHEDULED TO BE DISPATCHED DUE TO LACK OF A TRANSPONDER, A MICROPHONE AND RADIOS. APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF, MANY WITNESSES SAW THE AIRPLANE COMING OUT OF THE CLOUDS, FROM THE SOUTH-SOUTHEAST, SAW IT CROSS OVER THE AIRPORT, AND THEN TURN NORTH. WHEN IT WAS NORTH OF THE AIRPORT, IT STARTED A SHARP RIGHT TURN, THE NOSE PITCHED DOWN, AND THE AIRPLANE DISAPPEARED FROM VIEW. IT IMPACTED ALMOST STRAIGHT DOWN. A LOCAL WEATHER OBSERVATION BY A LOCAL FLIGHT OPERATION INDICATED 400 FEET OVERCAST CEILING AND VISIBILITY OF 2 MILES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2456P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2456P-1990-10-30), registration cancelled 1990-10-30, S/N 3879A1030 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-38-112
- Registry model: [Piper PA-38-112](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-38-112) (registry code 7103812) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 38-79A1030
- Airframe hours: 2950
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 112 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Grand Prairie Aviation
- Registered owner: Avmanco Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, February 28, 1990, 17 hours before
- Departed: F67
- Airport: F67, Municipal, runway 17, 4,000 × 75 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 4,000 total, 100 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 400 ft overcast
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: NBE, 9 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 19900308003519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900308003519A), Mar 8, 1990: Piper PA38112, Grand Prairie, TX, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Took off into low ceiling and visibility. Flew pattern in and out of clouds stalled turning steep final.

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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