# NTSB FTW94FA208: Piper PA-28R-201T, N9766K, Southard, OK, June 19, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: June 19, 1994, 15:20 local (20:20 UTC) - Place: Southard, OK - Location: 36.0559° N, 98.4754° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Southard, OK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0559&lon=-98.4754&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report January 25, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 18907 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW94FA208 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18907/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94FA208 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S CONTINUED FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER RESULTING IN THE DESIGN LIMITS OF THE AIRPLANE BEING EXCEEDED. FACTORS WERE THE THUNDERSTORMS AND THE PILOT'S DISREGARD FOR THE FORECASTED ADVERSE WEATHER. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor) - weather forecast - disregarded, pilot in command (contributing factor) - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, descent - uncontrolled - wing - separation - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis THE LEFT WING OF THE AIRPLANE SEPARATED FROM THE AIRPLANE IN FLIGHT AS THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT ATTEMPTED TO MANEUVER THE AIRPLANE UNDER A LINE OF SEVERE CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY ALONG HIS ROUTE OF FLIGHT. RESIDENTS IN THE AREA REPORTED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND HEAVY RAIN SHOWERS WITH WINDS GUSTING TO 50 MPH AND VISIBILITIES AS LOW AS A QUARTER OF A MILE. THE WEATHER BRIEFING PROVIDED TO THE PILOT APPROXIMATELY TWO HOURS PRIOR TO HIS DEPARTURE ADVISED HIM OF THE DEVELOPING AREA OF HEAVY THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY AND THE PILOT WAS ADVISED THAT VFR FLIGHT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED. THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND 3 DAYS LATER DISPERSED FOR OVER A HALF A MILE. THE LEFT WING WAS FOUND AT THE FARTHEST POINT FROM THE MAIN WRECKAGE, SEPARATED IN AN UPWARD AND AFT DIRECTION. CONTINUITY WAS ESTABLISHED TO ALL FLIGHT CONTROLS. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE AND ENGINE AT THE ACCIDENT SITE DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 19, 1994, at approximately 1520 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28R-201T, N9766K, was destroyed upon impact with terrain following a loss of control near Southard, Oklahoma. The non-instrument rated private pilot was fatally injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed throughout the area for the personal flight. According to friends of the pilot, the airplane departed the Albuquerque International Airport at 1230 CDT, on a VFR cross country flight to Tulsa, Oklahoma. No flight plan was filed for the flight. There were no reported eye witnesses to this accident. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The non-instrument rated pilot was issued a private pilot certificate on October 11, 1992. Friends of the pilot reported that he made the same round trip several times a month to visit a friend in Albuquerque. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the pilot called the Albuquerque Flight Service Station at 1018 and requested and was issued an abbreviated weather briefing for the flight to Tulsa, Oklahoma. The briefing advised the pilot of the developing area of heavy thunderstorm activity and the pilot was advised that VFR flight was not recommended. Several residents within three miles of the accident site concurred in the presence and severity of the thunderstorm activity. Their estimate of the prevailing visibilities at the time of the accident varied from a quarter of a mile, to two and a half miles. COMMUNICATIONS According to Air Traffic Control, the pilot received VFR traffic advisories from Albuquerque Center while eastbound at 13,500 feet. After being handed off to the Kansas City Center, the airplane was forced to deviate south of course and descend below radar coverage altitude as the pilot attempted to maneuver under a line of convective activity. Radar services were terminated at 1433 as the airplane crossed the 309 degree radial from the Sayre VOR, at 33 miles, while the airplane was eastbound descending to 7,500 feet. The transcripts from all pertinent en route communication between the airplane and the ATC facilities are enclosed in this report. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The wreckage was located 3 days later dispersed over a half a mile in an open field on a measured heading of 060 degrees. The left wing of the airplane was found at the farthest point from the main wreckage. Physical evidence demonstrated that the left wing separated in an upward and aft direction. See the enclosed wreckage distribution diagram for wreckage distribution pattern. On-scene investigation revealed that the wing flaps and the landing gears were in the retracted position. The powerplant remained attached to the airframe, and the propeller assembly was found separated at the propeller flange. Continuity was established to all flight controls. Examination of the airplane and engine at the accident site did not disclose any mechanical problems or pre-impact discrepancies. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION An autopsy and toxicological tests were ordered and performed. The autopsy was performed by Fred B. Jordan, M.D., of the Office of the State Medical Examiner on July 21, 1994. Toxicological tests were negative. FIRE A post-impact fire destroyed the cockpit/cabin area of the airplane. No evidence of pre-impact fire was found during the investigation. ADDITIONAL DATA The wreckage was released to the owner's representative following completion of the investigation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9766K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9766K-2002-01-14), registration cancelled 2002-01-14, S/N 28R-7803066, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-201T (PA-28R-201) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-201T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-201t) (registry code 7102813) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-7803066 - Airframe hours: 2505 - Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-360F 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Yancey, Michael D. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 14, 1994, 20 hours before - Departed: ABQ, ALBUQUERQUE, NM - Destination: TUL, TULSA, OK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 450 total, 150 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 35 knots, gusting 50 - Visibility: 0.5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 500 ft - Temperature: 88 °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 19940619016299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940619016299A), Jun 19, 1994: Piper PA28R201T, Southard, OK, Destroyed, 1 fatal. VFR not advised. Departed anyway. Flew into thunderstorm en route. Came apart in severe turbulence. No anomalies. 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.