# NTSB FTW90LA042: Piper PA-34, N8426B, Tomball, TX, December 5, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 5, 1989, 17:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place: Tomball, TX
- Coordinates: 30.089624, -95.609771 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0896&lon=-95.6098&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 28, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23085
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW90LA042
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23085/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW90LA042

## Probable cause

COLLAPSE OF THE NOSE GEAR FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON.

## Sequence of events

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

- Nose gear collapsed, takeoff - roll/run
  - landing gear,nose gear - undetermined (cause)
- Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - aborted
  - directional control - not possible
  - ground loop/swerve - uncontrolled
- On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - aborted
  - object - runway light (contributing factor)
- Fire, takeoff - aborted

## Analysis

THIS WAS A COMBINATION PERSONAL, BUSINESS & INSTRUCTIONAL FLT.  THE INSTRUCTOR PLT (CFI) WAS IN THE RGT FRONT SEAT & THE OTHER PLT (WITH SINGLE/MULTI-ENG, COMMERCIAL RATINGS) WAS IN THE LEFT FRONT SEAT.  ACCORDING TO ONE OF THE PLTS, THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AS THE ACFT WAS ON THE TAKEOFF ROLL. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT IMPACTED A RWY LIGHT & A TAXIWAY INDICATOR, CROSSED A TAXIWAY & HIT A DITCH.  WHEN THE TAXIWAY INDICATOR LIGHT STRUCTURE WAS HIT, THE LEFT WING WAS DAMAGED & IT ERUPTED WITH FIRE.  NO REASON WAS FOUND FOR THE NOSE GEAR TO RETRACT OR COLLAPSE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8426B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8426B-2013-06-07), registration cancelled 2013-06-07, S/N 34-8133194, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34
- Registry model: [Piper PA-34-220T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-220t) (registry code 7103420) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 34-8133194
- Airframe hours: 1662
- Engines: CONTINENTAL L/TSIO-360 220 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: John H. Ray Jr
- Registered owner: Jadeo Financial Services
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 30, 1989, 92 hours before
- Departed: DWH
- Destination: HOU, HOUSTON, TX
- Airport: DWH, David Wayne Hooks, runway 17, 7,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 2,083 total, 101 in this make and model, 1,883 as pilot in command, 126 in the last 90 days, 34 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 220° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 55 °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 19891205049099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891205049099A), Dec 5, 1989: Piper PA34220T, Houston, TX, Substantial damage. Nose gear collapsed on takeoff roll,veered off runway,hit taxiway lights and a ditch. Gear checked ok afterwards.

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.