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NTSB Report
November 4, 1987 · Piper PA-32-260 · N3666W
Fulton, TX
Overview
Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 4, 1987
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Location
Fulton, TX
Aircraft
Piper PA-32-260
Tail Number
N3666W
Operator
C F Brown
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
FTW88FA023
ACFT departed in conditions of low ceiling and visibility with a student PLT and PAX on board. Witnesses at the ARPT estimated the ceiling as 150 to 300 ft OVC with 1/8 to 1/4 mile vis in fog. After lift off the ACFT entered the fog in a RT climbing turn and reappeared over the runway heading in the opposite direction at very low altitude. Witnesses on the beach, about 1/2 mile from the ARPT stated that the weather was 'poor and foggy'. They observed the ACFT impact the water in a RT bank and disappear. Investigation revealed that the ENG driven vacuum pump was inoperative at the time of T/O. The pump had a sheared drive shaft that exhibited considerable wear. In addition, the pump vanes were excessively worn and one vane was found jammed between the rotor and the case. Detailed examination of the pump revealed that it had been inoperative for some time prior to the accident.
Full Narrative
ACFT DEPARTED IN CONDITIONS OF LOW CEILING AND VISIBILITY WITH A STUDENT PLT AND PAX ON BOARD. WITNESSES AT THE ARPT ESTIMATED THE CEILING AS 150 TO 300 FT OVC WITH 1/8 TO 1/4 MILE VIS IN FOG. AFTER LIFT OFF THE ACFT ENTERED THE FOG IN A RT CLIMBING TURN AND REAPPEARED OVER THE RUNWAY HEADING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AT VERY LOW ALTITUDE. WITNESSES ON THE BEACH, ABOUT 1/2 MILE FROM THE ARPT STATED THAT THE WEATHER WAS 'POOR AND FOGGY'. THEY OBSERVED THE ACFT IMPACT THE WATER IN A RT BANK AND DISAPPEAR. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE ENG DRIVEN VACUUM PUMP WAS INOPERATIVE AT THE TIME OF T/O. THE PUMP HAD A SHEARED DRIVE SHAFT THAT EXHIBITED CONSIDERABLE WEAR. IN ADDITION, THE PUMP VANES WERE EXCESSIVELY WORN AND ONE VANE WAS FOUND JAMMED BETWEEN THE ROTOR AND THE CASE. DETAILED EXAMINATION OF THE PUMP REVEALED THAT IT HAD BEEN INOPERATIVE FOR SOME TIME PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:18 CST
Nearest AirportAransas County (0nm N)
Runway26
Runway Length4500 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftPiper PA-32-260
Tail NumberN3666W
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorC F Brown
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-540-E4B5 · Reciprocating · 260
Seats7
People & Injuries
Injury Summary2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 53 · Third Class
Conditions
ConditionsIMC
LightDaylight
Wind280° @ 4 kt
CeilingOvercast 300 ft
Temperature / Dew Point68 F
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Weather SourceWIT