# NTSB FTW90LA038: Piper PA-23-160, N289RL, Cresson, TX, November 27, 1989 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 27, 1989, 12:15 local (18:15 UTC) - Place: Cresson, TX - Coordinates: 32.52956, -97.649475 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5296&lon=-97.6495&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 24, 1990 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 23082 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW90LA038 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23082/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW90LA038 ## Probable cause THE FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AND THE CFI'S INABILITY TO REGAIN CONTROL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF BRAKES ON THE CFI'S SIDE OF THE AIRPLANE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - directional control - not maintained, dual student (cause) - directional control - not possible, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - brakes(normal) - not possible, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - object - fence (contributing factor) - object - fence post (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING USED FOR MULTIENGINE INSTRUCTION. THE INSTRUCTOR SAID THEY WERE MAKING A TOUCH AND GO LANDING. HE SAID THE LANDING WAS NORMAL AND THE STUDENT CLEANED UP THE AIRPLANE. THE STUDENT APPLIED FULL POWER FOR TAKEOFF AND THE AIRPLANE YAWED LEFT. THE STUDENT OVERCORRECTED AND THE AIRPLANE YAWED EXTREMELY TO THE RIGHT. THE INSTRUCTOR TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AND ATTEMPTED TO GET DIRECTIONAL CONTROL BUT SAID THE RUDDER WAS NOT EFFECTIVE ENOUGH. THERE WERE NO BRAKES ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE AIRPLANE. THE INSTRUCTOR SAID HE HAD REDUCED THE POWER TO IDLE. THE AIRPLANE LEFT THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, STRUCK TREES AND A FENCE AND FENCE POST, AND CAME TO A STOP APPROXIMATELY 300 YARDS OFF THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, IN A SHALLOW DEPRESSION. LATER THE PASSENGER IN THE REAR SEAT DID STATE THE INSTRUCTOR HAD REACHED FOR THE THROTTLES BUT ONLY CLOSED THE RIGHT ENGINE THROTTLE, AND THE LEFT ENGINE CEASED OPERATION AFTER IMPACT WITH A FENCE POST. NO PRE-IMPACT PROBLEMS COULD BE FOUND WITH THE AIRPLANE OR POWERPLANTS. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N289RL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N289RL-1991-11-15), registration cancelled 1991-11-15, S/N 231548 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23-160 - Registry model: [Piper PA-23-160](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-160) (registry code 7102304) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 23-1548 - Airframe hours: 3279 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Bourland Field Inc. - Registered owner: Bourland Field, Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 25, 1989, 5 hours before - Airport: 50F, Bourland Field, runway 35, 4,150 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 1,626 total, 250 in this make and model, 1,550 as pilot in command, 379 in the last 90 days, 109 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 13 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft broken - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg ## 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 19891127047819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891127047819A), Nov 27, 1989: Piper PA23160, Fort Worth, TX, Substantial damage. Student over controlled rudder on touch and go. CFI took over but had not brakes to aid recovery. Hit fence post. ## Other investigations on N289RL (1) 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. - [NTSB FTW91LA120](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW91LA120), Jul 11, 1991: Piper PA-23 (N289RL), Cresson, TX, destroyed. Probable cause: A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNKNOWN REASONS AND THE FAILURE OF THE CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR/PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO FEATHER THE PROPELLER. 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.