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NTSB Report
December 7, 1986 · Piper PA-28R-200 · N4475F
Petersburg, TX
Overview
Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 7, 1986
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Petersburg, TX
Aircraft
Piper PA-28R-200
Tail Number
N4475F
Operator
Glen a Dunn
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
FTW87FA029
ACFT IMPACTED IN A 95 DEG NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE FOLLOWING A LOSS OF CONTROL IN IMC CONDITIONS WHILE THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PVT PLT WAS BEING VECTORED TO THE FINAL APP CRS. PLT HAD FILED IFR AND HAD EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTIES THRU OUT THE FLT. AS HE WAS GIVEN VECTORS FOR SEQUENCING HIS FLYING BECAME ERRATIC AND HE COMPLAINED OF PITOT ICE AND INSTRUMENT PROBLEMS. ICING LVL WAS WELL ABOVE HIS ALT AND POST-ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT ALL INSTRUMENTS WERE WORKING NORMALLY. HIS DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEMS WAS INCONSISTENT WITH THE WAY THE 2 SEPARATE INSTRUMENT SYSTEMS OPERATE. THE PLT HAD RECENTLY FAILED HIS INSTRUMENT WRITTEN AND HAD A TOTAL OF 39 HRS SIMULATED INSTRUMENT TIME. EVIDENCE ALSO REVEALED HE WAS OPERATING THE ACFT WITH AN INOP ADF AND DEFICIENT VHF NAV RADIOS.
Full Narrative
ACFT IMPACTED IN A 95 DEG NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE FOLLOWING A LOSS OF CONTROL IN IMC CONDITIONS WHILE THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PVT PLT WAS BEING VECTORED TO THE FINAL APP CRS. PLT HAD FILED IFR AND HAD EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTIES THRU OUT THE FLT. AS HE WAS GIVEN VECTORS FOR SEQUENCING HIS FLYING BECAME ERRATIC AND HE COMPLAINED OF PITOT ICE AND INSTRUMENT PROBLEMS. ICING LVL WAS WELL ABOVE HIS ALT AND POST-ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT ALL INSTRUMENTS WERE WORKING NORMALLY. HIS DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEMS WAS INCONSISTENT WITH THE WAY THE 2 SEPARATE INSTRUMENT SYSTEMS OPERATE. THE PLT HAD RECENTLY FAILED HIS INSTRUMENT WRITTEN AND HAD A TOTAL OF 39 HRS SIMULATED INSTRUMENT TIME. EVIDENCE ALSO REVEALED HE WAS OPERATING THE ACFT WITH AN INOP ADF AND DEFICIENT VHF NAV RADIOS.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:26 CST
Nearest AirportLubbock International (15nm NE)
Runway17R
Runway Length11500 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftPiper PA-28R-200
Tail NumberN4475F
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorGlen a Dunn
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-360-CIC · Reciprocating · 200
Seats4
People & Injuries
Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 60 · Second Class
Conditions
ConditionsIMC
LightBright Night
Wind170° @ 13 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 700 ft
Temperature / Dew Point54 / 54
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time00:36
Weather SourceWFAC