# NTSB FTW94LA117: Piper PA-24-260, N8961P, Roswell, NM, April 1, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 1, 1994, 13:54 local (19:54 UTC) - Place: Roswell, NM - Coordinates: 33.639907, -104.379386 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6399&lon=-104.3794&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 14, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19026 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW94LA117 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19026/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94LA117 ## Probable cause THE LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO CLEAR AIR TURBULENCE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, cruise - weather condition - turbulence,clear air (cause) - airspeed(vne) - exceeded, pilot in command - weather condition - downdraft - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - uncontrolled - horizontal stabilizer surface - bent ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8961P), registered now, S/N 24-4418, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-260 - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-260) (registry code 7102406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-4418 - Airframe hours: 4293 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19940401017989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940401017989A), Apr 1, 1994: Piper PA24260, Roswell, NM, Substantial damage. Encountered severe turbulence at cruise. Lost 6000 feet prior recovery. Landed row. Bent horizontal stabilizers. ## Other investigations on N8961P (1) 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. - [NTSB OAK77DA017](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK77DA017), Feb 6, 1977: Piper PA-24 (N8961P), Monterey, CA, incident, minor damage 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.