# NTSB FTW91FA124: Piper PA-38-112, N9326T, Whitharral, TX, July 18, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 18, 1991, 03:00 local (08:00 UTC)
- Place: Whitharral, TX
- Location: 33.7392° N, 102.3278° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Whitharral, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7392&lon=-102.3278&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 25, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23270
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW91FA124
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23270/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW91FA124

## Probable cause

POWER LOSS DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S OPERATION WITH THE KNOWN INOPERATIVE LANDING LIGHT AND THE DARK NIGHT.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - refueling - not performed, pilot in command
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency
  - landing light(s) - inoperative (contributing factor)
  - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DURING A NIGHT CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT THE AIRPLANE EXHAUSTED FUEL ON BOARD. THE TWO PILOTS WERE WITHOUT VISUAL REFERENCES ON THE DARK NIGHT FORCED LANDING AND THE LANDING LIGHT WAS INOPERATIVE. THE INOPERATIVE LANDING LIGHT WAS DETECTED ON THE PREFLIGHT. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE GROUND IN A LEFT ROLL GREATER THAN 90 DEGREES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9326T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9326T-1999-03-05), registration cancelled 1999-03-05, S/N 38-78A0034 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-38-112
- Registry model: [Piper PA-38-112](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-38-112) (registry code 7103812) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 38-78A0034
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 112 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Steven Bernstein, doing business as Levelland Aviation, Inc.
- Registered owner: Steven Bernstein
- Departed: LBB, LUBBOCK, TX
- Destination: Q24, LEVELLAND, TX

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 22; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 72 total, 72 in this make and model, 37 as pilot in command, 72 in the last 90 days, 59 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 250° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19910718029019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910718029019A), Jul 18, 1991: Piper PA38112, Whitherral, TX, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Impacted at high speed in open field and disintegrated. Pilot certificate number pending.

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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