FTW97LA040

The pilot initially requested and was assigned 8,000 feet, and was later issued 10,000 feet as a final altitude assignment for the en route portion of his instrument flight to the Hale County Airport. As the airplane approached the Plainview VOR, the pilot was cleared by ATC for the published VOR approach to runway 04, and he was twice issued the current Lubbock altimeter as 30.42 inches. The airplane, configured with the landing gear extended, touched down on the runway's extended centerline, approximately 3/4 of a mile from the landing threshold for runway 04. Examination of the airplane revealed that the pilot's altimeter was set on 30.67 inches. The minimum descent altitude for the approach was 3,840 feet, and the field elevation was 3,372 feet. The top of the fog was reported at 4,200 feet.

On November 12, 1996, at 2305 central standard time, a Piper PA-23-250 airplane, N5443, was substantially damaged upon impact with terrain while on an instrument approach near Plainview, Texas. The instrument rated private pilot, sole occupant of the twin engine aircraft, sustained minor injuries. The airplane was owned and operated by the Wayland Baptist University of Plainview, Texas, under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed for the night business flight for which a weather briefing was received and an instrument flight plan filed. The flight departed from the Meacham Airport near Fort Worth, Texas, at 2100.

The pilot stated that on his last weather check prior to departing Fort Worth, the weather for Lubbock, Texas, which is the closest weather reporting station to his destination airport, was reporting a 900 foot ceiling with 3 miles visibility. He added that the Midland International Airport was reporting clear skies, and he selected it as his alternate airport.

The pilot initially requested and was assigned 8,000 feet, and was later issued 10,000 feet as a final altitude assignment for the en route portion of his instrument flight to the Hale County Airport. As the airplane approached the Plainview VOR, the pilot was cleared by ATC for the published VOR approach to runway 04, and was twice issued the current Lubbock altimeter as 30.42 inches. The airplane, configured with the landing gear extended, touched down on the runway's extended centerline, approximately 3/4 of a mile from the landing threshold for runway 04.

In the enclosed narrative portion of the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated his intentions were "to descend to minimums and if [the} airport was not visible, to do a missed approach to LBB [Lubbock] or Midland." The pilot added that "his last recollection was approaching MDA."

Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed that airframe structural damage was incurred when the landing gear sank in the soft ground. Further examination revealed that the pilot's altimeter was found set on 30.67 inches (current was 30.42). The minimum descent altitude for the approach being flown was 3,840 feet, with a field elevation of 3,372 feet. The tops of the fog was reported at 4,200 feet.

There were no reported eyewitnesses to the accident. According to law enforcement personnel that responded to the accident, the pilot used his cellular phone to report the accident and arranged for his wife to pick him up.