# NTSB FTW95LA061: Piper PA-32-260, N2LK, Goldthwaite, TX, December 2, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 2, 1994, 17:25 local (23:25 UTC) - Place: Goldthwaite, TX - Coordinates: 31.449256, -98.569267 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.4493&lon=-98.5693&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report May 4, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19318 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA061 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19318/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA061 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S ATTEMPTED FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS. FACTORS WERE THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN, REDUCED VISIBILITY DUE FOG AND LOW CEILINGS, AND THE REDUCED LIGHT CONDITIONS. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal - flight into known adverse weather - attempted, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - fog (contributing factor) - light condition - dusk (contributing factor) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - became lost/disoriented, pilot in command - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - object - fence - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis WHILE EN ROUTE FROM DEMING, NM, TO WACO, TX, THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED DETERIORATING WEATHER AND ELECTED TO DIVERT TO BROWNWOOD, TX, HIS ALTERNATE. PRIOR TO HIS DEPARTURE FROM DEMING, NEW MEXICO, HE HAD RECEIVED A COMPLETE WEATHER BRIEFING. THE BRIEFER INFORMED HIM THAT THE WEATHER ALONG HIS PROPOSED ROUTE OF FLIGHT WOULD BE DETERIORATING. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE ALTERNATE AIRPORT DUE TO REDUCED VISIBILITY AND THE LIGHT CONDITIONS, SO HE DECIDED TO LAND IN A COW PASTURE. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A BARBED WIRE FENCE AND NOSED OVER INTO A CREEK. ## Factual narrative On December 2, 1994, approximately 1725 central standard time, a Piper PA-32-260, N2LK, was substantially damaged during a precautionary landing near Goldthwaite, Texas. The private pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The following is based on interviews with the pilot and the pilot operator report. The pilot had flown from Chino, California, to Deming, New Mexico. At Deming, the airplane was refueled and the pilot obtained a weather briefing, he was informed that he would be experiencing deteriorating ceilings along his proposed route of flight, before filing a VFR flight plan to Waco, Texas. En route to Waco, the pilot was in radio contact with Fort Worth Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC). When he was about 100 miles from Waco, he began a descent due to deteriorating ceilings and elected to divert to Brownwood, Texas, his alternate. Due to deteriorating weather and reduced lighting conditions, he was unable to locate the Brownwood Airport and decided to make a precautionary landing in a cow pasture. During the landing roll, the airplane struck an barbed wire fence and nosed over into a creek. The pilot reported weather was partial obscuration, 3,500 feet overcast, 3 miles visibility in fog and drizzle. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2LK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2LK-2012-11-13), registration cancelled 2012-11-13, S/N 32-727, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-260 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (registry code 7103206) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-727 - Airframe hours: 3900 - Engines: LYCOMING O-540-E4B5 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Breto, Fidel A. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 15, 1994, 25 hours before - Departed: DMN, DEMING, NM - Destination: BWD, BROWNWOOD, TX - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 445 total, 39 in this make and model, 235 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 315° at 9 knots - Visibility: 3 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 54 °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 19941202040999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941202040999A), Dec 2, 1994: Piper PA32260, Goldthwaite, TX, Destroyed. On flight following. Pilot became lost in clouds. Broke out. Made emergency landing in a field. 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.