Piper PA-34-220T accident near Brackettville, TX
On April 23, 2001, a Piper PA-34-220T (airplane) was involved in an accident near Brackettville, TX. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- April 23, 2001
- Place
- Brackettville, TX
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-34-220T · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 2 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 29.533°N, 100.300°W
- NTSB ID
- 20010430X00834
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On April 22, 2001, at 2346 central daylight time, a Piper PA-34-220T twin-engine airplane, N4312G, was destroyed when it impacted trees and terrain while maneuvering near Brackettville, Texas. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual. The airline transport pilot and one passenger were fatally injured, and two other passengers were seriously injured. Dark night instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The cross-country flight departed San Antonio, Texas, approximately 2300, and was destined for Del Rio, Texas. According to the FAA, U.S. Border Patrol personnel, and local authorities, the pilot called the San Angelo Flight Service Station (FSS) and requested a weather briefing for his route of flight three times prior to departing. While en route, the pilot called the San Angelo FSS and requested an additional weather briefing for his flight. The surviving passenger told Border Patrol personnel that they "encountered weather and knew there was something wrong." The passenger added that he had unfastened his seat belt in order to listen to what the pilot was saying when the airplane started to impact trees and terrain. The local authorities were notified that the airplane had not reached its destination. A search was initiated and the aircraft was located by Border Patrol approximately 12 hours after the accident. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot held an airline transport certificate with single and multiengine land airplane ratings.
Probable cause
the pilot's intentional low flight and his poor judgment to intentionally fly into known adverse weather, which resulted in an in-flight collision with terrain. Contributing factors were the dark night conditions and the thunderstorm.
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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.
