Piper PA-31T accident near Hobbs, NM
On October 30, 2002, a Piper PA-31T (airplane) was involved in an accident near Hobbs, NM. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- October 30, 2002
- Place
- Hobbs, NM
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31T · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 32.703°N, 103.233°W
- NTSB ID
- 20021105X05432
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On October 30, 2002, at 0733 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-31T twin turbo-prop airplane, N3998Y, was destroyed upon impact with terrain following a loss of control during initial takeoff climb from the Lea County Regional Airport (HOB), near Hobbs, New Mexico. The instrument rated private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was fatally injured. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 flight for which an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed for the 169-nautical mile flight. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The El Paso International Airport, (ELP), near El Paso, Texas, was the flight's intended destination. According to the air traffic control (ATC) provided to the investigator in charge, the pilot had been cleared to ELP "as filed," and to maintain 7,000 feet, and told to expect 17,000 feet 10 minutes after departure. The flight had been assigned a transponder code of 2262. The airplane was cleared for takeoff from runway 03 at HOB at 0739 local. After becoming airborne, the flight was cleared for a left turn. The tower then cleared N3998Y to contact center. The pilot did not acknowledge the frequency change; however, he did establish radio contact with Fort Worth Center on 133.1, and reported climbing through 4,900 feet for an assigned 7,000-foot. Fort Worth Center reported the aircraft in radar contact and cleared the flight to 9,000 feet. The pilot acknowledged receipt of the clearance to his new assigned al
Probable cause
The pilot's loss of control while in instrument meteorological conditions during initial takeoff climb. Contributing factors were the prevailing clouds and fog.
More accidents in NM
- Gates Learjet 25D, Sep 5, 1993
- Piper PA-32-300, Dec 26, 1982
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- Cessna 421C, Feb 11, 1985
- Beech 58, Mar 26, 1982
Browse: New Mexico · 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.
