# NTSB FTW96LA187: Piper PA-24-180, N7256P, Carlsbad, NM, April 28, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 28, 1996, 16:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Carlsbad, NM - Coordinates: 32.399147, -104.230186 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.3991&lon=-104.2302&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 19, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19818 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW96LA187 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19818/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA187 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions. Factors relating to the accident were: the sudden windshift and/or windshear. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, approach - vfr pattern - downwind - weather condition - windshear (contributing factor) - weather condition - sudden windshift (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - open field ## Analysis At the completion of a cross-country flight, while on a left downwind for landing on runway 03, the pilot encountered a wind shift and the aircraft started to descend. Despite the application of go-around procedures, the aircraft continued descending. The pilot executed a forced landing in a open area, but the aircraft was damaged. The wind was reported to be from 340 degrees at 8 knots, but the pilot said the wind was gusting from the north to 15 knots. ## Factual narrative On April 28, 1996, at 1630 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-24-180, N7256P, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing at Carlsbad, New Mexico. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured and two passengers received minor injuries. The flight was operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred and no flight plan was filed for this cross country flight which originated in Amarillo, Texas, at 1500. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. According to the pilot, he elected to perform a go-around due to changing winds and could not keep the aircraft airborne due to adverse wind. He landed in flat sandy terrain next to the airport. The pilot said the distance from first encountering the unexpected descent to the point of impact was approximately 1.2 miles and that at onset of the descent, he was approximately 800 feet above ground level (agl). The pilot of another aircraft, which was ahead of the accident aircraft, reported the winds to be 360 degrees at 10 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7256P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7256P-1997-02-07), registration cancelled 1997-02-07, S/N 242432 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-24-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-180) (registry code 7102403) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-2432 - Airframe hours: 2419 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1D5 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Sigma Three Consulting, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 14, 1996, 42 hours before - Departed: TDW, AMARILLO, TX - Destination: CNM ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,100 total, 524 in this make and model, 3,100 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 8 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: CNM, 2 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 19960428009459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960428009459A), Apr 28, 1996: Piper PA24180, Carlsbad, NM, Substantial damage. Collided with terrain on a go around. Blamed strong downdraft. Landed flat sandy area beyond end of runway. (-23) pilot stated that on final approach to cnm,… 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.