Piper PA-24-250 accident near Ratcliff, TX
On January 16, 1994, a Piper PA-24-250 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Ratcliff, TX. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- January 16, 1994
- Place
- Ratcliff, TX
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 31.390°N, 95.130°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001206X00619
Official records · FTW94FA065
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- Transcript of Radio Communications: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On January 16, 1994, at 1258 central standard time, a Piper PA- 24-250, N6522P, was destroyed upon impact with terrain following a loss of control while maneuvering near Ratcliff, Texas. The private pilot and his two passengers were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight. The non-instrument rated pilot received an abbreviated weather briefing at 0911 for a proposed VFR flight from Galveston to Tyler, Texas. The pilot was issued the requested weather for the flight and was advised that VFR flight was not recommended due to low ceilings and visibilities prevailing throughout southeast Texas. A departure time of 1122 was recorded by the UNICOM at the Galveston Airport. Witnesses near the accident site observed the airplane "circling a large clearing within the Davy Crokett National Forest with the engine intermittently cutting out as if it was running out of fuel." One witness observed the airplane "in about a 45 degree nose down attitude with the engine operating at a very high pitch" prior to disappearing behind a tree line. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot took his first flight lesson on January 1, 1989, in a Cessna 152. He first soloed on May 11, 1989, after 23.8 hours of dual instruction. He received his private pilot certificate on November 10, 1989, after he accumulated a total of 96.7 hours, of which 60.7 were dual. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The 1959 model airplane was purchased by the pilot on November 9, 1993. The pilot flew with a certified flight instructor for 16 hours to qualify in the airplane. The airplan
Probable cause
THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AND ALLOWED IT TO EXCEED ITS DESIGN STRESS LIMITS, WHICH RESULTED IN OVERLOAD FAILURE OF THE STABILATORS AND RIGHT OUTBOARD WING SECTION.
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Browse: Texas · Piper aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
