Piper PA-23-150 N2078P

Summary

On 11 November 1992 at about 15:30 local time, a Piper PA-23-150 registered N2078P, operated by Bridgeport FLT Trng CTR Inc, was involved in an accident near Jayton, Texas, United States. 3 people were on board and one was seriously injured, 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

11 November 1992 at 15:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Jayton, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Kent County (22F)

Coordinates

33.2502, -100.5707

Aircraft

Piper PA-23-150

Registration

N2078P

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Bridgeport FLT Trng CTR Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Levelland → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW93LA035

1 person was seriously injured.

THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED WHILE MANEUVERING FOR LANDING AND ALLOWED THE A/C TO STALL. FACTORS WERE THE LOW CEILINGS, THE PILOTS DISREGARD OF THE FORECAST WEATHER, THE CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS, AND THE PILOTS DELAYED APPLICATION OF CARBURETOR HEAT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT RECEIVED WEATHER INFORMATION FOR THE RETURN FLIGHT THAT FORECAST CEILINGS BELOW VFR MINIMUMS WITH DRIZZLE AND FOG FROM A SLOW MOVING COLD FRONT. HE PROCEEDED WITH THE FLIGHT AT LOW ALTITUDE AND ENCOUNTERED CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN A PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER. HE DIVERTED TO A NEAR BY AIRPORT WHERE EYEWITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE MANEUVERING AT AN ALTITUDE LESS THAN 200 FEET AGL AND MAKING SHARP LEFT TURNING MANEUVERS AROUND THE AIRPORT. THE EYEWITNESSES ALSO REPORTED OBSERVING THE AIRPLANE'S NOSE DROP BEFORE THE LEFT WING IMPACTED THE TERRAIN NEAR THE APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 17. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND WITH A TAILWIND. ACCORDING TO A PASSENGER, THE PILOT HAD BOTH CARBURETOR HEAT CONTROLS ON DURING THE LOW LEVEL MANEUVERS TO KEEP THE RUNWAY IN SIGHT AND CONTINUED TO MANIPULATE THE POWER BEFORE THE AIRSPEED DROPPED AND THE STALL OCCURRED. THE TEMPERATURE OF 46 DEGREES F AND DEW POINT OF 43 DEGREES PLACED THE AIRPLANE IN SERIOUS ICING AT CRUISE POWER.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.