Piper PA-24-260 accident near Gorman, TX
On June 30, 2002, a Piper PA-24-260 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Gorman, TX. 4 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- June 30, 2002
- Place
- Gorman, TX
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-260 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 4 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 32.261°N, 98.709°W
- NTSB ID
- 20020710X01078
Official records · FTW02FA192
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 30, 2002, approximately 1200 central daylight time, a Piper PA-24-260 single-engine airplane, N8681P, was destroyed following an in-flight breakup near Gorman, Texas. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. The instrument-rated private pilot and three passengers sustained fatal injuries. Visual 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 originated from the Lamesa Municipal Airport, Lamesa (2F5), Texas, stopped at the San Angelo Regional/Mathis Field (SJT), San Angelo, Texas, and at the Dublin Municipal Airport (9F0), Dublin, Texas, to pick up passengers. At 1145, the flight departed Dublin for the return flight to Lamesa. At 1150, a witness heard a low flying airplane, and one minute later he heard a "thud." The witness stated that the wind was blowing out of the southeast at 20 miles per hour and light rain and low clouds existed near the accident site. No radio or distress calls were received from the airplane. The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) received Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) signals at 1428, 1452, and 1522. At 1600, the CAP initiated a search, and at 2045, the accident site was located. Air traffic control (ATC) radar data was obtained from information recorded by the FAA. Between 1151:09 and 1154:10, the radar data depicted an airplane with a mode C transponder code "1200, " flying northwest and climbing from 7,300 feet to 8,500 feet. Radar plots showed that the airplane made a left turn followed by a right
Probable cause
The pilot's loss of control and the exceedence of the design limits of the airplane which resulted in an in-flight break-up. A factor was inadvertent VFR flight into IMC.
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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.
