- Date
- November 9, 1992, 02:00 local (08:00 UTC)
- Place
- Dublin, TX
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N39883Bellanca 17-31ATC
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report September 29, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19921109045709A
- Case key
- 18580
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
Improper IFR operation by the pilot by descending under instrument meteorological conditions below the minimum altitude and the pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while maneuvering for a landing. Factors which contributed to the accident were: pilot fatigue and 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
At 0144 the plt was issued an approach clearance to the Dublin airport & cleared to maintain 3,000 ft MSL or above until established on the instrument approach. At 0148 the clearance was amended to a cruise clearance of 3,000 ft or above (the airport does not have an instrument approach). The pilot then reported he was still in the clouds at 2,100 ft MSL (605 ft AGL). Witnesses reported that the airplane was heard descending at 'maximum power' when it struck a telephone pole. The pilot operated a 24-hour 7-days-A-week veterinarian clinic in spring, Texas, and had worked a consecutive 3 day shift from 0800 to 2400 before departing the clinic for the departure airport.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N39883
- Reported as
- Bellanca 17-31ATC
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 73-31056
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-540-K1E5, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Teague, James Edward
- Registered owner
- Teague, James Edward
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Unknown · January 2, 2000
- Departed
- DWH · Houston, 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
- 57
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,500 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 160° at 12 knots
- Visibility
- 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 300 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- SEP, 12 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.