# NTSB FTW92FA223: Piper PA-30, N7065Y, Broussard, LA, September 6, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 6, 1992, 18:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Broussard, LA
- Coordinates: 30.150758, -91.970886 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.1508&lon=-91.9709&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 3 serious
- Status: Completed, report May 26, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18373
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW92FA223
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18373/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW92FA223

## Probable cause

PILOT'S DECISION TO FLY INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER AND THE RESULTANT IN FLIGHT BREAK UP OF THE AIRPLANE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - thunderstorm
  - flight into known adverse weather - performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - wing - failure,total
  - wing - overload
  - horizontal stabilizer surface - failure,total
  - horizontal stabilizer surface - overload
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

AFTER A COMPLETE WEATHER BRIEFING FORECASTING THUNDERSTORMS ALONG THE ROUTE, THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED AND ATTEMPTED TO FLY THROUGH THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY. MANUALLY DIGITIZED RADAR AND NATIONAL TRACK ANALYSIS PROGRAM RECORDED RADAR DATA INDICATED PENETRATION OF A VERY STRONG (VIP LEVEL FOUR) WEATHER ECHO CONTAINING A THUNDERSTORM WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN SHOWERS, MODERATE TO SEVERE TURBULENCE, AND UP AND DOWN DRAFTS. RECORDED RADAR INDICATED THAT AIRPLANE CONTROL WAS LOST AT ITS CRUISING ALTITUDE OF 8,000 FEET. THE OUTBOARD SECTIONS OF BOTH WINGS, MOST OF THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER, AND PIECES OF WINDSHIELD AND CABIN WINDOWS WERE FOUND IN A ONE HALF TO ONE MILE ARC WEST OF THE MAIN WRECKAGE.  ALL FAILURES WERE OVERLOAD. THE TEN MONTH AND FOUR YEAR OLD CHILDREN IN THE REAR SEAT WERE RESTRAINED IN CHILD SAFETY SEATS AND SURVIVED. THE PILOT HAD BEEN GIVEN CLEARANCE TO DEVIATE AS NECESSARY FOR WEATHER AVOIDANCE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7065Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7065Y-1993-02-25), registration cancelled 1993-02-25, S/N 3078 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30
- Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 30-78
- Airframe hours: 4880
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-320-B1A 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Camacho, Raul
- Registered owner: Camacho, Raul
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 31, 1992, 7 hours before
- Departed: 6RO, SLIDELL, LA
- Destination: ILE, KILLEEN, TX
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,069 total, 90 in this make and model, 973 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 17 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,400 ft broken
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LFT, 10 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 19920906035399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920906035399A), Sep 6, 1992: Piper PA30, Lafayette, LA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Flew into area of forecast thunderstorms. Broke up in flight.

## Other investigations on N7065Y (2)

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.

- [NTSB MKC72DCQ17](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC72DCQ17), Aug 7, 1971: Piper PA-30 (N7065Y), Mankato, KS, substantial damage
- [NTSB FTW70D0178](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW70D0178), Aug 20, 1969: Piper PA-30 (N7065Y), Texhoma, OK, substantial damage

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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