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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

November 27, 1989 · Piper PA-23-160 · N289RL

Cresson, TX

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 27, 1989
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (3 uninjured)
Location
Cresson, TX
Aircraft
Piper PA-23-160
Tail Number
N289RL
Operator
Bourland Field
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
FTW90LA038

The airplane was being used for multiengine instruction. The instructor said they were making a touch and go landing. He said the landing was normal and the student cleaned up the airplane. The student applied full power for takeoff and the airplane yawed left. The student overcorrected and the airplane yawed extremely to the right. The instructor took control of the airplane and attempted to get directional control but said the rudder was not effective enough. There were no brakes on the right side of the airplane. The instructor said he had reduced the power to idle. The airplane left the right side of the runway, struck trees and a fence and fence post, and came to a stop approximately 300 yards off the side of the runway, in a shallow depression. Later the passenger in the rear seat did state the instructor had reached for the throttles but only closed the right engine throttle, and the left engine ceased operation after impact with a fence post. No pre-impact problems could be found with the airplane or powerplants.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AND THE CFI'S INABILITY TO REGAIN CONTROL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF BRAKES ON THE CFI'S SIDE OF THE AIRPLANE.

Full Narrative

THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING USED FOR MULTIENGINE INSTRUCTION. THE INSTRUCTOR SAID THEY WERE MAKING A TOUCH AND GO LANDING. HE SAID THE LANDING WAS NORMAL AND THE STUDENT CLEANED UP THE AIRPLANE. THE STUDENT APPLIED FULL POWER FOR TAKEOFF AND THE AIRPLANE YAWED LEFT. THE STUDENT OVERCORRECTED AND THE AIRPLANE YAWED EXTREMELY TO THE RIGHT. THE INSTRUCTOR TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AND ATTEMPTED TO GET DIRECTIONAL CONTROL BUT SAID THE RUDDER WAS NOT EFFECTIVE ENOUGH. THERE WERE NO BRAKES ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE AIRPLANE. THE INSTRUCTOR SAID HE HAD REDUCED THE POWER TO IDLE. THE AIRPLANE LEFT THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, STRUCK TREES AND A FENCE AND FENCE POST, AND CAME TO A STOP APPROXIMATELY 300 YARDS OFF THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, IN A SHALLOW DEPRESSION. LATER THE PASSENGER IN THE REAR SEAT DID STATE THE INSTRUCTOR HAD REACHED FOR THE THROTTLES BUT ONLY CLOSED THE RIGHT ENGINE THROTTLE, AND THE LEFT ENGINE CEASED OPERATION AFTER IMPACT WITH A FENCE POST. NO PRE-IMPACT PROBLEMS COULD BE FOUND WITH THE AIRPLANE OR POWERPLANTS.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:15 CST
Nearest AirportBourland Field (0nm N)
Runway35
Runway Length4150 ft
Runway Width60 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-23-160
Tail NumberN289RL
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorBourland Field
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320 · Reciprocating · 160
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (3 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured3
Total3
Crew 1Age 32 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind340° @ 13 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 2500 ft
Temperature / Dew Point39 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data