Aviation Crash Map

Piper PA-28R-200 N4439T

8 April 1993 · Midlothian, Texas, United States · No injuries

Summary

On 8 April 1993 at about 21:10 local time, a Piper PA-28R-200 registered N4439T, operated by Williams, Kenneth W., was involved in an accident near Midlothian, Texas, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 21:10
Classification
Accident
Location
Midlothian, Texas, United States
Nearest airport
Midlothian (4T6)
Coordinates
32.4009, -96.8492
Aircraft
Piper PA-28R-200
Registration
N4439T
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Williams, Kenneth W.
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Business
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Unknown → Alexandria
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
FTW93LA120

People

Nobody was injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
1 0 0 0 1

Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE ENGINE COWLING LATCH RESULTING IN DETERIORATING AIRPLANE PERFORMANCE AND A FORCED LANDING.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

DURING CLIMBOUT THE ENGINE COWLING LATCH FAILED, AND THE COWLING OPENED COMING TO REST AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD. THE COWLING BLOCKED THE PILOT'S FORWARD VIEW, AND ACTED AS A FLAT PLATE CAUSING DRAG THAT COULD NOT BE OVERCOME WITH FULL POWER. THE MAX AIRSPEED THAT COULD BE GAINED WITH A FULL POWER WAS NO MORE THAN 70 KTS, AND THE SINK RATE DEVELOPED TO APRX 1,000 FPM. THE PILOT COULD NOT MAKE THE DESIRED RUNWAY AND LANDED IN AN ADJACENT FIELD COLLAPSING THE LANDING GEAR. THE LEFT FRONT LATCH HAD FAILED; THE RIGHT FRONT LATCH SUBSEQUENTLY CAME OPEN.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Piper PA-28R accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
27 May 1993 Piper PA-28R-200
N4820T
Hesperia, California, United States - No injuries -
22 Jun 1993 Piper PA-28R-180
N7591J
Ephrata, Washington, United States - Serious injuries -
2 Jan 1993 Piper PA-28R-201T
N2008M
Concord, California, United States Richard Talley/Larry Shattuck Minor injuries -
12 Apr 1993 Piper PA-28R-200
N9460N
Kinsley, Kansas, United States Larry Leoffler Fatal 2
7 Feb 1993 Piper PA-28R-200
N1253T
Lincoln, Nebraska, United States Johnson, Rollie C. No injuries -
15 Mar 1993 Piper PA-28R-200
N15206
Grand Haven, Michigan, United States Suburban Aviation, Inc. Fatal 1

All 1,342 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
27 Jan 1993 Cessna 150L
N5414Q
Fort Worth, Texas, United States Raven Air Parts Inc No injuries -
30 Jan 1993 Beechcraft 65-A90
N363N
Marfa, Texas, United States Johnson, Dennis No injuries -
31 Jan 1993 Rans S-7
N4312C
Lancaster, Texas, United States Windfred D. Hinchliffe No injuries -
15 Oct 1993 Cessna A188
N8020V
Burleson, Texas, United States - Serious injuries -
1 Feb 1993 Cessna 150M
N9199U
Bowie, Texas, United States Texins Association No injuries -
16 Oct 1993 Cessna 172K
N7825T
Jacksonville, Texas, United States - No injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States