Piper PA-28R-200 N55307

Summary

On 15 November 2007 at about 21:00 local time, a Piper PA-28R-200 registered N55307, operated by Skymates Inc, was involved in an accident near Ranger, Texas, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 November 2007 at 21:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Ranger, Texas, United States

Coordinates

32.4769, -98.5200

Aircraft

Piper PA-28R-200

Registration

N55307

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Skymates Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Arlington → Abilene

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DFW08FA031

3 people died.

The pilot's intentional performance of aerobatic maneuvers that exceeded the design limits of the airplane structure.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While on an instructional cross-country flight in visual meteorological conditions, the airplane experienced an in-flight breakup during an aerobatic maneuver. Five maneuvers of interest were identified in the radar data for the accident flight. During the last maneuver the airplane's airspeed exceeded 134 knots calibrated airspeed (KCAS). According to the airplane's type certificate data sheet, the airplane's maximum maneuvering speed was 116 KCAS. Fellow flight instructors revealed that the accident flight instructor had reported performing "rolls" and/or "snap rolls" in the past while in the flight school's airplanes. In addition, one primary flight student reported that the accident flight instructor had demonstrated "rolls" and "spins" to him during flight lessons. No preimpact mechanical deficiencies with the airplane were noted, and all fracture surfaces were consistent with overload separations.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.