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NTSB Report
September 4, 1988 · Piper PA-34-220T · N83874
Carthage, TX
Overview
Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 4, 1988
Injury Outcomes
5 injuries (5 fatalities)
Location
Carthage, TX
Aircraft
Piper PA-34-220T
Tail Number
N83874
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
FTW88FA161
DRG A NIGHT ARRIVAL, THE PLT RPRTD HE COULD MAKE A VISUAL APCH. AT 2341:37 CDT, THE ARTCC CONTROLLER INFORMED HIM THE DESTN ARPT WAS STRAIGHT AHEAD AT 12 MI & REQUESTED THAT HE RPRT WHEN THE ARPT WAS IN SIGHT. AT 2343:30, HE RPRTD THE RWYIN SIGHT & THE CONTROLLER CLEARED HIM FOR A VISUAL APCH. THE FINAL PORTIONS OF THE FLT WERE BELOW THE ALT FOR RADAR COVERAGE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CRASHED IN A WOODED AREA, AT A LOCATION & ON A HEADING THAT WOULD APPROXIMATE A LEFT BASE LEG FOR RWY 35. HOWEVER, INITIAL IMPACT WAS WITH TREES WHILE IN A STEEP RIGHT BANK. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND DRG THE INVESTIGATION. ALTHOUGH OFFICIAL RPRTS FROM WX STATIONS IN THE AREA SHOWED THE WX WAS ABOVE VFR MINIMUMS, PERSONNEL IN THE AREA OF THE ACDNT SITE RPRTD THE SKY CONDITION WAS OBSCURED WITH FOG.
Full Narrative
DRG A NIGHT ARRIVAL, THE PLT RPRTD HE COULD MAKE A VISUAL APCH. AT 2341:37 CDT, THE ARTCC CONTROLLER INFORMED HIM THE DESTN ARPT WAS STRAIGHT AHEAD AT 12 MI & REQUESTED THAT HE RPRT WHEN THE ARPT WAS IN SIGHT. AT 2343:30, HE RPRTD THE RWYIN SIGHT & THE CONTROLLER CLEARED HIM FOR A VISUAL APCH. THE FINAL PORTIONS OF THE FLT WERE BELOW THE ALT FOR RADAR COVERAGE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CRASHED IN A WOODED AREA, AT A LOCATION & ON A HEADING THAT WOULD APPROXIMATE A LEFT BASE LEG FOR RWY 35. HOWEVER, INITIAL IMPACT WAS WITH TREES WHILE IN A STEEP RIGHT BANK. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND DRG THE INVESTIGATION. ALTHOUGH OFFICIAL RPRTS FROM WX STATIONS IN THE AREA SHOWED THE WX WAS ABOVE VFR MINIMUMS, PERSONNEL IN THE AREA OF THE ACDNT SITE RPRTD THE SKY CONDITION WAS OBSCURED WITH FOG.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time23:48 CDT
Nearest AirportPanola County-Sharpe (2nm SSW)
Runway35
Runway Length3200 ft
Runway Width50 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftPiper PA-34-220T
Tail NumberN83874
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · TSIO-360-KB · Reciprocating · 220
Seats6
People & Injuries
Injury Summary5 injuries (5 fatalities)
Fatal5
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total5
Crew 1Age 62 · Second Class
Conditions
ConditionsIMC
LightBright Night
WindCalm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT