Summary
On March 02, 2004, a Piper PA-38-112 (N2588A) was involved in an accident near Sugar Land, TX. The accident resulted in 1 minor injury, with 1 person uninjured out of 2 aboard. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot's improper weather evaluation, and his encounter with adverse weather conditions. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the precautionary landing.
On March 2, 2004, approximately 1730 central standard time, a Piper PA-38-112 single-engine airplane, N2588A, was substantially damaged when it impacted a barbed-wire fence following a precautionary landing near Sugar Land, Texas. The passenger received minor injuries and the private pilot was not injured. The aircraft was owned by King Interests Inc., of Pearland, Texas, and operated by King Flight Service of Pearland, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The aircraft departed Victoria Regional Airport (VCT), near Victoria, Texas, at 1600, with a destination of Pearland Regional Airport (LVJ), near Houston, Texas.
This accident is documented in NTSB report FTW04LA087. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N2588A.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's improper weather evaluation, and his encounter with adverse weather conditions. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the precautionary landing.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On March 2, 2004, approximately 1730 central standard time, a Piper PA-38-112 single-engine airplane, N2588A, was substantially damaged when it impacted a barbed-wire fence following a precautionary landing near Sugar Land, Texas. The passenger received minor injuries and the private pilot was not injured. The aircraft was owned by King Interests Inc., of Pearland, Texas, and operated by King Flight Service of Pearland, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The aircraft departed Victoria Regional Airport (VCT), near Victoria, Texas, at 1600, with a destination of Pearland Regional Airport (LVJ), near Houston, Texas. No flight plan was filed for the flight.
According to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the 170-hour pilot reported that he did not receive a weather briefieng for the flight; however, he did obtain some weather data from the internet on DUATS. The pilot added that while en route, the weather deteriorated and he elected to divert to Houston Southwest Airport (AXH), near Houston, Texas. The pilot added that the weather continued to deteriorate, and he was forced to attempt a precautionary landing in a field. During the landing roll, the aircraft struck a barbed-wire fence and came to rest in the inverted position.
Examination of the aircraft by the FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, revealed structural damage to the right wing spar, the horizontal stabilizer, and fuselage.
The automated surface observing system at Houston Southwest Airport (SGR) at 1753 reported the winds at 130 degrees at 11 knots, 7 statute miles visibility, overcast at 1,100 feet msl, temperature 22 degrees Celsius, dew point 20 degrees Celsius, and a barometric pressure reading of 29.99 inches of Mercury.
The automated surface observing system at Victoria Regional Airport (VCT) at 1751 reported the winds at 140 at 10 knots, 9 statute miles visibility, broken at 1,300 feet msl, temperature 22 degrees Celsius, dew point 21 degrees Celsius, and a barometric pressure reading of 29.96 inches of Mercury.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# FTW04LA087