# NTSB FTW91FA055: Piper PA-24-180, N888G, Pasadena, TX, March 22, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 21, 1991, 22:25 local (Mar 22, 1991, 04:25 UTC)
- Place: Pasadena, TX
- Coordinates: 29.619867, -95.190452 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6199&lon=-95.1905&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 31, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23253
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW91FA055
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23253/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW91FA055

## Probable cause

POWER LOSS DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION RESULTANT FROM THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL AT AN ALTERNATE DESTINATION AND THE INADVERTENT STALL. FACTORS WERE THE DARK NIGHT AND WEATHER CONDITIONS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, descent - emergency
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION WHILE ON FINAL BETWEEN THE FAF AND THE THRESHOLD ON A SECOND ILS APPROACH IN NIGHT IMC AFTER A FLIGHT OF 5.1 HOURS. A MISSED APPROACH WAS EXECUTED ON THE FIRST WHEN THE PILOT DEVIATED BEYOND LIMITS BOTH IN ALTITUDE AND COURSE. THE PILOT HAD FLIGHT PLANNED 3:45 ETE AND INDICATED THAT HE HAD 6:00 HOURS OF FUEL ON BOARD. THE FUEL EXHAUSTION TIME CORRESPONDED WITH PERFORMANCE DATA PROVIDED IN THE AIRPLANE OWNER'S HANDBOOK. ALTHOUGH HE RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING PRIOR TO DEPARTURE AND OBTAINED WEATHER EN ROUTE, THE PILOT DID NOT REQUEST WIND ALOFT INFORMATION. THE FLIGHT ENCOUNTERED 35 TO 40 KNOT HEAD WINDS THROUGHOUT THE TRIP AND ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE CONTROLLERS ASKED THE PILOT IF HE HAD ENOUGH FUEL TO REACH HIS DESTINATION. DURING THE FINAL LEG OF THE FLIGHT THE PILOT OVERFLEW AT LEAST 3 SUITABLE ALTERNATE AIRPORTS. FOLLOWING THE ENGINE FAILURE, THE PILOT ALLOWED THE AIRPLANE TO STALL AND IT SUBSEQUENTLY IMPACTED THE GROUND IN STEEP NOSE DOWN, LEFT WING LEADING ATTITUDE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N888G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N888G-1991-07-08), registration cancelled 1991-07-08, S/N 24545 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-180
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-180) (registry code 7102403) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24-545
- Airframe hours: 3792
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Channel Aviation, Inc.
- Registered owner: Channel Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 23, 1990, 77 hours before
- Departed: LIT, LITTLE ROCK, AR
- Destination: HPY, BAYTOWN, TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: EFD, Ellington Field, runway 17, 9,000 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 510 total, 37 in this make and model, 469 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 180° at 10 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 200 ft broken
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: EFD, 2 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 19910321006729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910321006729A), Mar 21, 1991: Piper PA24, Houston, TX, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Ran out of fuel on approach. Lost control stalled prior impact. Never reported low fuel.

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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