# NTSB FTW94FA014: Piper PA-28-140, N98143, Texarkana, AR, October 18, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: October 17, 1993, 20:23 local (Oct 18, 1993, 01:23 UTC) - Place: Texarkana, AR - Location: 33.4418° N, 94.0377° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Texarkana, AR, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4418&lon=-94.0377&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 4 fatal - Status: Completed, report September 27, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 18864 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW94FA014 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18864/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94FA014 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO OBTAIN A WEATHER BRIEFING, THE EXISTING WEATHER, HIS LACK OF INSTRUMENT FLYING EXPERIENCE, AND THE DARK NIGHT CONDITION. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - weather condition - fog (contributing factor) - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor) - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause) - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise - normal - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) ## Analysis THERE IS NO RECORD THAT THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT OBTAINED A WEATHER BRIEFING FOR THE 306 MILE NIGHT CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT. APPROX 127 MILES FROM THE POINT OF DEPARTURE THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TREES AND TERRAIN. CONVECTIVE SIGMETS AND AIRMETS WERE IN EFFECT FOR THE ROUTE OF FLIGHT. THE WEATHER AT THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS REPORTED TO BE 200-300 FT OVERCAST, WITH VISIBILITIES LESS THAN 3 MI IN FOG. RECORDED RADAR DATA SHOWS THAT THE AVERAGE ALTITUDE OF THE FLIGHT WAS 1,500 FT MSL. ON THE LAST RADAR CONTACT THE AIRPLANE WAS AT AN ALTITUDE OF 800 FT. THE ELEVATION OF THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS 400 FT. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On October 17, 1993, at 2023 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140 airplane, N98143, was destroyed upon impact with trees and terrain near Texarkana, Arkansas. The non-instrument rated private pilot and his three passengers were fatally injured. Dark night instrument meteorological conditions prevailed throughout the area for the personal flight. According to family members, the airplane departed the North Little Rock Airport (1M1), at 1914 with Luck Field (F71), near Fort Worth, Texas, as their destination. No flight plan was filed or weather briefing obtained for the night cross country flight. The burned wreckage of the airplane was located by units of the Civil Air Patrol in a wooded area 1.8 nautical miles northwest of the Texarkana Regional-Webb Field Airport (TXK) at 1430 on October 21, 1994. There were no reported eye witnesses to this accident; however, several nearby residents reported hearing the impact. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The non-instrument rated pilot obtained his private pilot certificate on January 31, 1993. The airplane was purchased by the pilot on April 28, 1993. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The airplane was reported to have been topped off with 19.9 gallons of 100LL aviation fuel prior to departing the North Little Rock Airport. The airplane was equipped with a Loran navigation system, and a portable hand held GPS unit was found near the pilot's body. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed throughout the area. In-flight advisories (AIRMETs) had been issued for Arkansas and Texas by the National Severe Storms Forecast Center (NSSFC). Likewise, a convective SIGMET (27C) was issued regarding Texas, calling for an area of severe thunderstorms with tops to 45,000 feet, with tornadoes, hail up to 4 inches, and wind gusts up to 70 knots possible. The weather at the time of the accident at the Texarkana airport (TXK), was reported between 200 and 300 feet overcast, with visibilities between 2 and 3 miles in fog. Weather reports from several nearby residents of the area concurred with the reported weather reports. The official sunset was 1740. COMMUNICATIONS No communication was ever established between the airplane and any Air Traffic Control (ATC) facilities along the route of flight during the 68 minute flight. The airplane's radar beacon 1200 code was tracked from the point of departure, to the point of impact, just north of the TXK airport. According to the recorded radar data, the average altitude of the flight was 1,500 feet MSL. On the last radar contact, the airplane was at an altitude of 800 feet. Elevation of the accident site was 400 feet. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION Slash marks were found on tree trunks and branches along a measured heading of 023 degrees. A sunvisor and several pieces of windshield plexiglass were found near the initial point of impact with the trees. The propeller spinner, starter motor, portions of the engine cowling, and engine oil, were found in a crater approximately four feet wide, by ten feet long, with a depth of 18 inches. The crater was located ten feet short of the resting place of the main wreckage. The main wreckage was located approximately 360 feet from the initial point of impact with trees. See wreckage diagram for wreckage distribution. The engine was found separated from the airframe. The propeller assembly was found separated from the engine crankshaft flange. Both propeller blades exhibited "S" type bending and striations. The wing flaps were found in the retracted position. Evidence of fuel was found in fuel lines. Flight control continuity could not be established. Examination of the airframe and engine at the accident site did not disclose any mechanical problems. The airframe and engine logbooks were not located. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION An autopsy and toxicology tests were ordered and performed on the pilot. The autopsy was performed by William Q. Sturner, M.D., of the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory, at Little Rock, Arkansas, on October 22, 1993. Toxicological tests were positive for ethanol in the liver and muscle tissue; however, the amounts detected were substantially attributable to postmortem production, since the body was not recovered until four days after the accident. FIRE A post crash fire consumed the wreckage. The fire was concentrated in the cockpit and cabin area. No evidence of pre- impact fire was found during the investigation. ADDITIONAL DATA The wreckage was released to the owner's representative on October 28, 1993. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N98143](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N98143-2013-05-30), registration cancelled 2013-05-30, S/N 28-26070, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-26070 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Yoon, Eric - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 1M1, LITTLE ROCK, AR - Destination: F71, FORT WORTH, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 125 total, 20 in this make and model, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark - Wind: 80° at 10 knots - Visibility: 2 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 200 ft overcast - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: TXK, 1 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 19931017040429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931017040429A), Oct 17, 1993: Piper PA28140, Texarkana, AR, Destroyed, 4 fatal. No weather brief. Airmets on bad weather en route. Impacted trees short of destination. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.