Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Conroe, Texas 77303
Thursday, February 9, 1995 20:28 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE FLIGHT HAD BEEN CLEARED FOR AN ILS RWY 14 APPROACH. WEATHER CONDITIONS PROVIDED TO THE PILOT WAS 100 FEET OBSCURED, VISIBILITY 1/2 MILE IN FOG. THE FLIGHT CALLED THE FBO FOR FIELD CONDITIONS, AND ABOUT 15-20 MINUTES LATER THE AIRPLANE CAME OVER THE FIELD AND MADE A TURN TO THE RIGHT. THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED APPROX 1/2 MILE SHORT, AND 1/4 MILE LEFT, OF THE EXTENDED CENTERLINE OF RWY 14. WITNESSES IN THE FBO OFFICE STATED THEY DID NOT HEAR ANY 'CLICKS' OVER THE RADIO NORMALLY HEARD WHEN A PILOT ACTIVATES THE APPROACH LIGHTING SYSTEM. THE PILOT WAS IN THE RIGHT SEAT. THIS WAS THE PILOT'S FIRST FLIGHT INTO THE AIRPORT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW PUBLISHED IFR PROCEDURES. FACTORS WERE THE WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE DARK NIGHT, AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ACTIVATE THE APPROACH LIGHTING SYSTEM.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/9/1995
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 2028
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City CONROE
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 77303
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Partial - limited by pilot
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 759 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 150
Weather Observation Facility ID CXO
Elevation of weather observation facility 245
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 100
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0.5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 14
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Light
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 5
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 6
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 772
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 9 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2250
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:03PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5373F
NTSB Number FTW95FA112
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-32R-300
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-32R-300
Aircraft Serial Number 32R-7680512
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 7
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 22 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 70
Airframe Hours 2320
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HENRY J. RHODES
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3401 LUALLEN
Aircraft Owner City CARROLTON
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 75007
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code PLK
Departure City POINT LOOKOUT
Departure State MO
Departure Country
Departure Time 1730
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code CXO
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --