Piper PA-24-260 N5788

Summary

On 2 July 1999 at about 01:40 local time, a Piper PA-24-260 registered N5788 was involved in an accident near Houston, Texas, United States. 4 people were 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.

Date

2 July 1999 at 01:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Houston, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

West Hosuton (IWS)

Coordinates

29.6106, -95.1191

Aircraft

Piper PA-24-260

Registration

N5788

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

New Braunfels → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

FTW99LA178

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain the proper descent rate during a forced landing, which resulted in a runway undershoot. Factors were the total loss of engine power for an undetermined reason and the dusk light conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot failed to maintain the proper descent rate during a VFR approach, in dusk light conditions, following a complete loss of engine power, and the airplane undershot the runway. The airplane was on the downwind leg at 1,100 feet agl and was abeam the runway numbers when the pilot extended the landing gear. Simultaneously, she heard a loud bang and noticed a loss of engine power. The pilot advanced the throttle and realized that the engine had lost total power. The pilot stated that she trimmed the airplane to attain the best glide speed, but did not verify the airspeed during the ensuing forced landing. She added that the airplane was descending 'too fast,' and she needed 'more trim to relieve back pressure, but decided to muscle it as best [she] could and try not to stall the airplane.' Subsequently, the airplane's nose wheel contacted a cement drainage ditch at the approach end of the runway. Following the accident, the engine was test run in the airframe and found to operate within the manufacturer's specifications.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.