- Date
- July 17, 1992, 16:22 local (21:22 UTC)
- Place
- Tool, TX
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N6959CPiper PA-28R-201T
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 30, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19920717025929A
- Case key
- 18365
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot exceeded the design stress limits of the airframe as a result of flight into known adverse weather conditions.
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.
Analysis
During an instrument flight the pilot attempted to penetrate a line of thunderstorms with tops of 45,000 feet. The pilot reported, during his last communications, that he was encountering severe turbulence. The airplane pieces were seen to fall to the ground, scattered over an area of 10 square miles. Surface winds were estimated at 40 miles per hour gusting to 60 miles per hour with heavy rain. Pre flight weather briefing identified the hazardous weather and the pilot was advised by the briefer to remain on the ground until it passed.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6959C
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28R-201T (PA-28R-201)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28R-7803242
- Engine
- Continental TSIO-360-F, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Operator
- Mag Well Incorporated
- Registered owner
- Mag Well Incorporated
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 17, 1991 · 252 hours before
- Departed
- ARA · New Iberia, LA
- Destination
- DAL · Dallas, TX
- Flight plan
- IFR
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
- 52
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 1,139 total · 50 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Wind
- 90° at 40 knots, gusting 60
- Visibility
- 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 300 ft
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.