# NTSB FTW90FA177: Piper PA-32RT-300T, N36720, Addison, TX, September 10, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 9, 1990, 21:11 local (Sep 10, 1990, 02:11 UTC)
- Place: Addison, TX
- Coordinates: 32.960166, -96.829521 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9602&lon=-96.8295&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 3 serious, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 31, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23040
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW90FA177
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23040/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW90FA177

## Probable cause

FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE THROTTLE CABLE. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARKNESS AND OBJECTS (FENCE AND UTILITY POLES) IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - throttle/power lever,cable - fatigue (cause)
- Forced landing, landing
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - object - fence (contributing factor)
  - object - utility pole (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT RPRTD THAT DURING A FLARE TO LAND, HE NOTED A 'CLICK' AS HE MOVED THE THROTTLE TO THE IDLE POSITION & THERE WAS NO REDUCTION IN ENG POWER. HE STATED THE THROTTLE SEEMED VERY LOOSE & DID NOT APPEAR TO BE CONNECTED TO THE ENG. THE ENG WENT TO FULL POWER & THE TURBOCHARGER OVERBOOST LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WITH AN AIRSPEED OF 120 KTS, HE ABORTED THE LANDING. AS HE ATTEMPTED TO MANEUVER THE ACFT TO LAND, THE ENG POWER WENT TO A MID-POWER RANGE, THEN SURGED TO A HIGHER RANGE. THE PLT WAS FORCED TO MAKE AN OFF-ARPT LANDING. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A FENCE & LIGHT POLES, THEN A FIRE ERUPTED & THE PLANE WAS DESROYED. AN EXAM REVEALED THE THROTTLE CABLE HAD FAILED FROM HIGH CYCLE FATIGUE, WHICH RESULTED IN THE UNCONTROLLED ENG CONDITION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N36720](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N36720-1991-05-10), registration cancelled 1991-05-10, S/N 32R7887070 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32RT-300T (PA-32RT-30)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32RT-300T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32rt-300t) (registry code 7103216) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 36720
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-S1AD 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Center-Line Aviation, Inc.
- Departed: RSG, ROCK SPRINGS, TX
- Destination: ADS, ADDISON, TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: ADS, Addison, runway 15, 7,201 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; toxicology performed; flight hours: 5,566 total, 18 in this make and model, 4,941 as pilot in command, 52 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 130° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Observed at: ADS, 1 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 19900909038559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900909038559A), Sep 9, 1990: Piper PA32RT300T, Dallas, TX, Destroyed. Throttle disconnected on landing. Went full power. Unable land due power fluctuation. Crash landed on freeway.

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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