# NTSB FTW91FA012: Piper 601P, N23NS, Nacogdoches, TX, November 9, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 8, 1990, 18:05 local (Nov 9, 1990, 00:05 UTC)
- Place: Nacogdoches, TX
- Coordinates: 31.609003, -94.650672 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.6090&lon=-94.6507&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 5 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 19, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23236
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW91FA012
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23236/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW91FA012

## 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

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

- In flight encounter with weather, approach
  - fluid,fuel - low level (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
  - ifr procedure - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N23NS-1991-03-25), registration cancelled 1991-03-25, S/N 61P08548163451 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER 601P
- Registry model: [Piper AEROSTAR 601P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-aerostar-601p) (registry code 7106012) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 61P085481634
- Engines: 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19901108049319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901108049319A), Nov 8, 1990: Piper PA60601P, Nacogdoches, TX, Destroyed, 5 fatal. Flew into trees on ade approach weather below minimums.

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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