FTW91FA012

NTSB accident investigation · Piper 601P · Nacogdoches, TX · November 9, 1990

Accident · FatalField investigationFinal report
Date
November 8, 1990, 18:05 local (Nov 9, 1990, 00:05 UTC)
Place
Nacogdoches, TX
Injuries
5 fatal
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N23NSPiper 601P
Weather
Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
Status
Completed · report June 19, 1991
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19901108049319A
Case key
23236

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

Failure of the pilot to follow IFR procedures and maintain the proper altitude. Factors related to the accident were: the adverse weather conditions, dark night, low fuel state of the aircraft, and trees at the accident site.

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.

In flight encounter with weatherApproach
Fluid,fuel - low levelFactor
Light condition - dark nightFactor
Weather condition - low ceilingFactor
Weather condition - fogFactor
Weather condition - rainFactor
Weather condition - unfavorable windFactor
In flight collision with objectManeuvering - turn to reverse direction
Ifr procedure - not followedPilot in commandCause
Object - tree(s)Factor
Proper altitude - not maintainedPilot in commandCause

Analysis

At abt 1744 CST, bfr reaching his destn, the plt rprtd that during the flt, he had enctrd head winds & had only 50 min of fuel remaining. He was provided preferential hndlg, but another flt was also low on fuel. The plt was clrd for an ndbrwy 15 apch. At 1756:49, he acknowledged clnc for the apch. At aprx 1800, UNICOM adzd the current wx was: 700' bkn, sky obscd with hvy rain, wnd variable fm 090 to 240 deg at 24 gstg 29 KTS. The plt did not acknowledge the wx, except to sayin a calm voice, 'I hope you have your lgts on.' The FBO heard svrl clicks on the UNICOM (as if to actvt the rwy lgts),then there was no further rdo ctc with the acft. The acft hit trees & crashed abt 6 mi wnw of the arpt. Witnesses rprtd it was at low alt & had reversed course bfr crashing on a southerly hdg. The main wreckage came to rest abt 380' fm the initial impact point with trees. No preimpact part failure/malfunction was fnd. Abt 42 mi sse at lufkin, the 1751 CST wxwas in part: 200' ovc, vis 3/4 mi with tstms, hvy rw & fog, wnd fm 020 deg at 12 KTS. Apch mins: 600' cig & 1 mi vis.

Aircraft

Registration
N23NS
Reported as
Piper 601P
Category
Airplane
Serial number
61P085481634
Engine
Lycoming IO-540, 290 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Fire
On-Ground
Flight
Business · Part 91
Operator
G.T. Contractors Inc.
Departed
02J · Cordelle, GA
Destination
OCH
Flight plan
VFR/IFR
Airport
OCH · A.L.Mangham,Jr Rgnl, runway 15, 3,809 × 75 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
44
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Toxicology
Performed
Flight hours
3,500 total · 3,200 in this make and model · 2,900 as pilot in command

Weather

Conditions
Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
Temperature
48 °F, dew point 48 °F
Observed at
LFK, 42 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.