# NTSB FTW94LA157: Piper PA-28R-200, N56971, San Antonio, TX, May 15, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 14, 1994, 23:04 local (May 15, 1994, 04:04 UTC) - Place: San Antonio, TX - Coordinates: 29.529569, -98.609634 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5296&lon=-98.6096&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report January 12, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19054 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW94LA157 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19054/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94LA157 ## Probable cause THE PILOT CONTINUED FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER. THE THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY WAS A FACTOR. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - downwind - weather condition - thunderstorm,outflow (contributing factor) - weather condition - microburst/dry (contributing factor) - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown ## Analysis AFTER SHOOTING AN ILS APPROACH AND BREAKING OUT, THE PILOT TERMINATED THE APPROACH AND PROCEEDED TO HIS HOME BASE AIR STRIP. HE STATED THAT HE ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE DURING THE APPROACH AND EN ROUTE TO THE STRIP, TO THE POINT THAT HE HAD DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING ALTITUDE. THERE WERE THUNDERSTORMS THROUGHOUT THE AREA. HE SAID THAT THE LAST THING THAT HE AND THE PASSENGER RECALLED ABOUT THE FLIGHT WAS BEING SET UP ON A RIGHT DOWNWIND FOR RUNWAY 16 WITH THE GEAR DOWN. HE STATED THAT THE NEXT THING HE REMEMBERED WAS BEING ON THE GROUND AND STOPPED. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE BELIEVED THAT HE ENCOUNTERED A MICROBURST THAT FORCED THE AIRPLANE DOWN. ## Factual narrative On May 14, 1994, at 2304 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28R-200, N56971, was destroyed when it collided with the ground near San Antonio, Texas. The airplane, owned and operated by the commercial pilot, was on a personal cross country flight. An IFR flight plan was in effect and instrument meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot and the one passenger received serious injuries. The airplane was en route from Gulfport, Mississippi, to the San Antonio area. There were thunderstorms throughout the area and the pilot elected to initiate an ILS approach to runway 12L at the San Antonio International Airport. Once he had broken out of the overcast, on the approach, the pilot requested and was granted permission to divert to his home airport which was about 12 miles north of the international airport. The pilot stated that he had encountered turbulence during the approach and en route to the private strip. He said in his statement that he entered a right down wind for runway 16 and lowered the gear. He further stated that there was light rain, but, not "enough to hinder visibility. The next thing I remembered was being on the ground and stopped. I do not remember touching down or landing. Neither did Seaman (the passenger)." The pilot, who submitted a written statement, but failed to submit a Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, stated that he believed he encountered a microburst that forced the airplane down. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N56971](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N56971-1995-08-02), registration cancelled 1995-08-02, S/N 28R7435066 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-200 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-7435066 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-C1C 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Parmenter, Russell E. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: GPT, GULFPORT, MS - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 500 total ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark - Wind: 120° at 6 knots - Visibility: 4 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 900 ft overcast - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: SAT, 12 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 19940514010869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940514010869A), May 14, 1994: Piper PA28R200, San Antonio, TX, Destroyed. Broke out from ILS. Proceeded VFR to home strip. Turbulent near thunderstorms. Encountered micro burst. Forced down 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.