NTSB Identification: FTW82FRG26
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Thursday, March 18, 1982 in KINGSVILLE, TX
Probable Cause Approval Date: 03/18/1983
Aircraft: PIPER PA-24-260, registration: N8988P
Injuries: 2 Fatal.
NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.ON 3/17/82 A WX BRIEFER ADVISED THE PILOT ALL OF TEXAS WOULD BE UNDER INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITONS ON THE MORNINGOF 3/18/82. THERE WAS NO RECORD OF A FLT PLAN FILED BY THE PILOT OF N8988P AND THE DEPARTURE TIME FROM KINGSVILLE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE WAS FOUND THE NEXT MORNING 1.5 MILES SOUTHEAST OF THE AIRPORT IN A PLOWEDFIELD. EXAMINATION OF THE VACUUM DRIVEN ATTITUDE GYRO AFTER THE ACCIDENT REVEALED EVIDENCE OF PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION. TESTING REVEALED THAT THE GYRO WOULD NOT ERECT PROPERLY DUE TO DIRTY SPINDLE BEARINGS. NO OTHER PREIMPACT MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES WERE FOUND. THE PILOT OF N8988P LOGGED A TOTAL OF 2.6 HOURS OF INSTRUMENT FLT IN THE SIX MONTHS PREVIOUS TO THE ACCIDENT.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC..INITIATED..PILOT IN COMMAND
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
SPATIAL DISORIENTATION..PILOT IN COMMAND
Contributing Factors
WEATHER CONDITION..LOW CEILING
Contributing Factors
WEATHER CONDITION..FOG
Contributing Factors
WEATHER CONDITION..HAZE/SMOKE
Contributing Factors
LIGHT CONDITION..DARK NIGHT
Contributing Factors
FLIGHT/NAV INSTRUMENTS,ATTITUDE GYRO..DIRTY(FOGGY)
Contributing Factors
FLIGHT/NAV INSTRUMENTS,ATTITUDE GYRO..FALSE INDICATION
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