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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

June 13, 1986 · Piper PA-31-350 · N3539K

Huffman, TX

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 13, 1986
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Location
Huffman, TX
Aircraft
Piper PA-31-350
Tail Number
N3539K
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
FTW86FA107

The pilot was being vectored around thunderstorms in the area just prior to the accident. During the last radio contact, the pilot was issued a vector to the destination airport. During this turn, for unknown reasons, the pilot lost control of the aircraft and descended from the assigned altitude of 6,000 ft MSL to the ground in approximately 40 seconds. The aircraft reportedly was in clear weather conditions at this time and had not encountered adverse weather during the entire flight. The pilot did not mention any problems during the radio transmission with ATC. Impact in a shallow lake occurred while in a near vertical nose down attitude at a high rate of speed. The right propeller was found to have been feathered at the time of impact while the left propeller was set in the cruise range. No evidence of any preimpact failure or malfunction of the right engine or propeller was discovered during post accident tests. Path and toxi exams revealed no physiological factors. Pilot's flight time records were not available at time of investigation.

Full Narrative

THE PILOT WAS BEING VECTORED AROUND THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AREA JUST PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. DURING THE LAST RADIO CONTACT THE PILOT WAS ISSUED A VECTOR TO THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. DURING THIS TURN, FOR UNKNOWN REASONS, THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND DESCENDED FROM THE ASSIGNED ALTITUDE OF 6,000 FT MSL TO THE GROUND IN APPROXIMATELY 40 SECONDS. THE AIRCRAFT REPORTEDLY WAS IN CLEAR WEATHER CONDITIONS AT THIS TIME AND HAD NOT ENCOUNTERED ADVERSE WEATHER DURING THE ENTIRE FLIGHT. THE PILOT DID NOT MENTION ANY PROBLEMS DURING THE RADIO TRAMSNISSION WITH ATC. IMPACT IN A SHALLOW LAKE OCCURRED WHILE IN A NEAR VERTICAL NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE RIGHT PROPELLER WAS FOUND TO HAVE BEEN FEATHERED AT THE TIME OF IMPACT WHILE THE LEFT PROPELLER WAS SET IN THE CRUISE RANGE. NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PREIMPACT FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE RIGHT ENGINE OR PROPELLER WAS DISCOVERED DURING POST ACCIDENT TESTS. PATH AND TOXI EXAMS REVEALED NO PHYSIOLOGICAL FACTORS. PLTS FLT TIME RECORDS NOT AVAILABLE AT TIME OF INVESTIGATION.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:03 CDT
Nearest Airport14nm E
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-31-350
Tail NumberN3539K
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · TIO-540-J2BD · Reciprocating · 350
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 64 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind200° @ 20 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 2500 ft
Temperature / Dew Point70 F
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time17:52
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data