- Date
- April 1, 1994, 13:54 local (19:54 UTC)
- Place
- Roswell, NM
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N8961PPiper PA-24-260
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 14, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940401017989A
- Case key
- 19026
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
The loss of control due to clear air turbulence.
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
Flight was en route at 10,000 feet MSL with scattered clouds when the pilot encountered 'severe downdrafts' and the airplane entered an uncontrolled altitude deviation and descent. The pilot inadvertently exceed the never exceed speed. Airplane control was recovered at 4,400 feet MSL. The pilot reported the air was 'relatively smooth with scattered clouds and no obvious warning signs.' Horizontal stabilizers were bent downward.
Factual narrative
On April 1, 1994, at 1354 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-24- 260, N8961P, sustained substantial damge during cruise near Roswell, New Mexico. The private pilot and the sole passenger did not receive injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross country flight.
Air traffic control data indicated the airplane was 35 miles southeast of Roswell, New Mexico, at 10,000 feet MSL en route to Albuquerque, New Mexico, when the pilot reported "severe downdrafts." The airplane entered an uncontrolled altitude deviation and descent. Recovery of airplane control, as reported by the pilot, was 4,400 feet MSL. The flight diverted to Roswell, New Mexico, and landed without further incident.
An examination of the airplane by the pilot and a mechanic (statement enclosed) reported the horizontal stabilizers were bent downward. The pilot reported that he closed the throttle as the speed approached the never exceed speed; however, the speed continued to increase.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8961P
- Reported as
- Piper PA-24-260
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 24-4418
- Airframe hours
- 4,293
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-540-D4A5, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Gilcrist, Robert P.
- Registered owner
- Gilcrist, Robert P.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 24, 1994 · 23 hours before
- Departed
- BRO · Brownsville, TX
- Destination
- ABQ · Albuquerque, NM
- 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
- 63
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,835 total · 162 in this make and model · 1,759 as pilot in command · 28 in the last 90 days · 26 in the last 30 days · 7 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- ROW, 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.
Other investigations on N8961P · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.