# NTSB FTW94FA191: Piper PA-25-235, N4492Y, Breckenridge, TX, June 10, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: June 10, 1994, 08:56 local (13:56 UTC) - Place: Breckenridge, TX - Location: 32.7568° N, 98.9130° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Breckenridge, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7568&lon=-98.9130&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report December 7, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 18904 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW94FA191 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18904/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94FA191 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC. FACTORS WERE THE WEATHER AND THE LACK OF FLIGHT INSTRUMENTS. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, maneuvering - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor) - weather condition - fog (contributing factor) - flight/nav instruments - not installed (contributing factor) - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis THE INSTRUMENT RATED COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS FORCED TO RETURN TO HIS HOME BASE AFTER ENCOUNTERING A LOCALIZED AREA OF THICK FOG A FEW MILES AWAY FROM HIS POINT OF DEPARTURE. THE FLAGGERS AT THE FIELD TO BE SPRAYED CONTACTED THE PILOT AND REPORTED THAT THE WEATHER AT THEIR LOCATION HAD CLEARED. THE PILOT TOOK OFF AGAIN AND ATTEMPTED TO CONTINUE HIS VFR FLIGHT TO THE FIELD TO BE SPRAYED. THE PILOT REPORTED ON THE RADIO THAT THE CONDITIONS WERE NOT AS GOOD AS HE HAD HOPED AND THAT HE WAS TRYING TO FIND A WAY AROUND THE FOG. VISIBILITY IN THE VICINITY OF THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS REPORTED TO BE AS LOW AS FIVE FEET, AND AS HIGH AS 150 FEET. THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT EQUIPPED FOR INSTRUMENT FLIGHT AND THE PILOT DID NOT HAVE ANY RECENT INSTRUMENT EXPERIENCE. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 10, 1994, at 0856 central daylight time, a Piper PA-25-235, N4492Y, was destroyed upon impact with terrain while maneuvering near Breckenridge, Texas. The commercial pilot was fatally injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed for the aerial application flight. According to the operator, the airplane departed the Stephens County Airport, near Breckenridge, Texas, earlier that morning with a 120 gallons of herbicides to spray fields approximately 25 miles north of the airport. A localized heavy area of fog encountered en route to the work site forced the pilot to return to the airport and wait for the weather to improve. The flaggers reported to the pilot that the weather at the field to be sprayed had cleared. The pilot elected to make another attempt, and the airplane departed at 0840. According to the enclosed accident report, en route to the work site, the pilot reported that conditions were not as good as he had hoped for and he was trying to find a way around the fog. The pilot maintained radio contact with the operator at the airport, as well as with the operator's wife, who was in a truck in the vicinity of the accident site. Several witnesses reported observing the airplane flying near tree tops, overflying a barn, making a steep left turn, disappearing into the fog bank, followed seconds later by the sound of ground impact. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot was instrument rated; however, he had not flown under actual or simulated instrument conditions for the previous five years. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION Flight instruments installed in the airplane were an airspeed indicator, a magnetic compass, and an altimeter. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION A localized heavy area of fog prevailed to the north of the airport. Visibility in the vicinity of the accident site was reported to be as low as five feet, and as high as 150 feet. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The navigational lens cover for the left wing was found at a ground scar at the initial point of impact. An imprint of the left main landing gear tire and strut was also found near the initial point of impact. Ground scars were found on a measured heading of 143 degrees, with the airframe coming to rest on a measured heading of 050 degrees. The propeller assembly was found separated from the engine at the propeller flange. Both blades had evidence of S-type bending and leading edge scoring. The wing flaps were found in the retracted position. See the enclosed wreckage diagram for distribution pattern. Continuity was established to all the flight controls. Examination of the airframe and engine at the accident site did not disclose any pre-impact discrepancies. A review of the airframe and engine records by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, did not reveal any anomalies or uncorrected maintenance defects prior to the flight. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION An autopsy and toxicological tests were ordered and performed. The autopsy was performed by the Tarrant County Office of the Medical Examiner, in Fort Worth, Texas, on June 13, 1993. Toxicological tests were negative. ADDITIONAL DATA The wreckage was released to the owner's representative on June 16, 1994. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4492Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4492Y-1996-03-12), registration cancelled 1996-03-12, S/N 254158 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-25-235 - Registry model: [Piper PA-25-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-25-235) (registry code 7102504) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 25-4055 - Airframe hours: 5352 - Engines: LYCOMING O-540-B2B5 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Caraway Ag-Tuttle Spraying Co. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 15, 1994, 45 hours before - Destination: BKD ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; toxicology performed; flight hours: 7,610 total, 2,072 in this make and model, 90 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 3 knots - Visibility: 0.1 statute miles - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 64 °F ## 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 19940610040889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940610040889A), Jun 10, 1994: Piper PA25235, Breckenridge, TX, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Encountered heavy fog trying to return to airport. Lost control. IFR rated but not current. 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.