# NTSB FTW95FA019: Piper PA-32-300, N2964A, College Station, TX, October 15, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: October 15, 1994, 17:28 local (22:28 UTC) - Place: College Station, TX - Coordinates: 30.559305, -96.27095 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5593&lon=-96.2709&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 2 serious, 2 minor - Status: Completed, report June 19, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19193 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95FA019 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19193/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=19193 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95FA019 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED AND THE RESULTING INADVERTENT STALL. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION, AND HIS DIVERTED ATTENTION TO AN OPEN CARGO DOOR. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - door,cargo/baggage - open - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor) - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - object - pole - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis THE FORWARD BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT DOOR CAME OPEN AND BEGAN 'FLAPPING' DURING TAKEOFF ROLL/INITIAL TAKEOFF CLIMB. THE PILOT CONTINUED HIS TAKEOFF AND RADIOED THAT HIS BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT DOOR HAD POPPED OPEN AND HE WAS RETURNING TO LAND. THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED FLYING IN A STEEP CLIMB ATTITUDE, AT VERY SLOW AIRSPEED, IN A PRONOUNCED LEFT CRAB OR SLIP, IN A LEFT TURN AT AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 75 TO 100 FEET. THE PASSENGER IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT REPORTED HEARING THE STALL WARNING HORN INTERMITTENTLY PRIOR TO THE AIRPLANE'S IMPACT WITH TWO UTILITY POLES. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD TAKEN A QUART OF OIL FROM THE FORWARD BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT TO REPLENISH THE ENGINE OIL. HE REPORTED THAT HE DID NOT REMEMBER IF THE TOP PART OF THE LATCH WAS LATCHED PRIOR TO HIS TAKEOFF. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT AND ENGINE DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On October 15, 1994, at 1728 central daylight time, a Piper PA-32-300, N2964A, was destroyed following a loss of control near College Station, Texas. The private pilot and one of his passengers received minor injuries, two passengers were seriously injured, and one passenger sustained fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight. According to several witnesses, the aircraft departed from runway 16, at the intersection with runway 22 (with 5,750 feet remaining) at Easterwood Airport on an instrument flight rules flight plan to San Antonio, Texas. Several witnesses observed the front baggage compartment door flapping prior to lift off. One airline transport rated pilot stated that the airplane became airborne with 4,000 feet of runway remaining. He also estimated that the maximum altitude attained by the airplane was between 75 and 100 feet. In the enclosed NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot reported that he preflighted the airplane prior to arrival of the passengers for the return trip. The pilot stated that during his preflight inspection he found that the engine was low one quart of oil. He reported that he opened the baggage compartment and took one quart of oil out the put it in the engine. After replenishing the oil, he placed the empty oil container back in the box inside the baggage compartment, "pushed cargo door closed, pushed latch in, but could not remember if the top part of the latch latched." The pilot further stated that everything was normal during the takeoff roll, except that he noticed that the airplane was drifting left of centerline and the airplane "was pulling to the left." The pilot stated that he rotated at 80 knots and established a climb attitude. He stated that he "had the plane in climb attitude after lift off before noticing door popping open." He estimated that the airplane was about 10 feet off the ground when the baggage door became open. Immediately after lift off the pilot reported on the radio that his baggage compartment door was open and that he was returning to land. The tower gave the pilot the options of either a left or right downwind entry to runway 16. The pilot stated that he opted for the left because the airplane was already pulling in that direction. The pilot stated that the airspeed decreased to about 65 knots and the stall warning horn was activated. The passenger on the right front seat also reported hearing the stall warning horn and when "the pilot leveled the plane off, it went off." He further reported that the stall warning came back on about 5 seconds later as the airplane was still crabbing left in a mush mode. After the airplane took off, witnesses at the airport observed it in a steep climb attitude, flying at a very slow speed, in a pronounced left crab or slip, in a left turn, at an altitude of approximately 75 to 100 feet. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot was issued a private pilot certificate on March 21, 1987. He had been instrument rated since January 30, 1988. According to EMS and rescue personnel, the fatally injured passenger was not wearing a seat belt. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION An estimate of the weight of the airplane at the time of the accident places the airplane within its limits. Examination of the airplane and engine at the accident site did not disclose any mechanical problems. No anomalies or defects were found with the baggage compartment door, its latching mechanism, or lock assembly (found unlocked). A review of the airframe and engine records by a FAA inspector did not reveal any anomalies or uncorrected maintenance defects prior to the flight. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION Imprints corresponding to the landing gears were found on the ground on a measured heading of 030 degrees, just short of two utility poles. Impressions and paint transfers from the leading edge of both wings were found on two utility poles located 20 feet apart. The markings on the poles indicate a 45-50 degree angle of bank. Ground scars were approximately 105 feet long; they ended at the base of a tree trunk. The airframe came to rest on a measured heading of 015 degrees beyond the tree. The baggage compartment door remained attached to the airframe. Neither the baggage compartment nor the door were deformed. The door was open and unlatched. The powerplant remained attached to the airframe. The two blade propeller remained attached to the engine. Both propeller blades displayed rotational marks and torsional twisting. Continuity was established to all flight controls. See wreckage diagram for wreckage distribution pattern. ADDITIONAL DATA The wreckage was released to the owner's representative upon completion of the investigation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2964A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2964A-1995-03-09), registration cancelled 1995-03-09, S/N 327940231 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-300 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-7940231 - Airframe hours: 3405 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1G5D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Sanitors Southwest Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 24, 1994, 36 hours before - Destination: SAT, SAN ANTONIO, TX - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: CLL, Easterwood, runway 16, 7,000 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 425 total, 150 in this make and model, 425 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 9 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,800 ft overcast - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: CLL, 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 19941015034899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941015034899A), Oct 15, 1994: Piper PA32300, College Station, TX, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Front baggage door open on takeoff. Observed by pilot on climbout. Returned. Struck poles steep turn for landing. ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 7, 1995, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=19193. 2.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 763 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436686&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Supplement A (item 2, .PDF, 171 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40020849&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20A-Master.PDF - Supplement B (item 3, .PDF, 318 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40020850&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20B-Master.PDF - Supplement S (item 4, .PDF, 38 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40020851&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20S-Master.PDF - Witness Statements (item 5, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436687&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - Passenger Statement (item 6, .PDF, 139 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436688&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Passenger%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Wreckage Diagram (item 7, .PDF, 47 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40020855&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Wreckage%20Diagram-Master.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 8, .PDF, 85 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436689&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-Redacted.PDF 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.