Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Burkburnett, Texas 76354
Thursday, July 15, 1993 17:45 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AFTER SIGHTSEEING FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES, THE PILOT INITIATED A RIGHT BANK TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT. THE AIRPLANE BEGAN DESCENDING AND FULL BACK PRESSURE WOULD NOT ARREST THE DESCENT. THE PILOT LEVELED THE WINGS AND APPLIED FULL POWER. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED A RIVER SAND BAR. POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION DISCLOSED THE UP ELEVATOR CABLE WAS DISCONNECTED FROM THE CONTROL HORN. A BOLT, SEVERAL CASTLE NUTS, WASHERS, SHEET METAL SCREWS, A SPACER AND A REMNANT OF A COTTER PIN WERE VACUUMED FROM THE FLOOR OF THE AIRPLANE BENEATH THE ELEVATOR CONTROL HORN. THE AIRPLANE HAD ACCUMULATED 142 HOURS SINCE THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION 10 MONTHS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE DISCONNECTION OF THE UP ELEVATOR CABLE FROM THE CONTROL HORN. A FACTOR WAS THE INCORRECT INSTALLATION OF THE BOLT AND CASTLE NUT BY UNKNOWN MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/15/1993
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1745
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City BURKBURNETT
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 76354
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 7
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 Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 35
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 819
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 15 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2030
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4834M
NTSB Number DEN93LA079
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-11
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-11
Aircraft Serial Number 11-345
Certified Max Gross Weight 1220
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 21 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 142
Airframe Hours 1217
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RENTON, PAUL N.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1004 BROOK
Aircraft Owner City WICHITA FALLS
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 76301
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 SPS
Departure City WICHITA FALLS
Departure State TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 1645
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
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 --