Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Broussard, Louisiana 70518
Sunday, September 6, 1992 18:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AFTER A COMPLETE WEATHER BRIEFING FORECASTING THUNDERSTORMS ALONG THE ROUTE, THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED AND ATTEMPTED TO FLY THROUGH THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY. MANUALLY DIGITIZED RADAR AND NATIONAL TRACK ANALYSIS PROGRAM RECORDED RADAR DATA INDICATED PENETRATION OF A VERY STRONG (VIP LEVEL FOUR) WEATHER ECHO CONTAINING A THUNDERSTORM WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN SHOWERS, MODERATE TO SEVERE TURBULENCE, AND UP AND DOWN DRAFTS. RECORDED RADAR INDICATED THAT AIRPLANE CONTROL WAS LOST AT ITS CRUISING ALTITUDE OF 8,000 FEET. THE OUTBOARD SECTIONS OF BOTH WINGS, MOST OF THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER, AND PIECES OF WINDSHIELD AND CABIN WINDOWS WERE FOUND IN A ONE HALF TO ONE MILE ARC WEST OF THE MAIN WRECKAGE. ALL FAILURES WERE OVERLOAD. THE TEN MONTH AND FOUR YEAR OLD CHILDREN IN THE REAR SEAT WERE RESTRAINED IN CHILD SAFETY SEATS AND SURVIVED. THE PILOT HAD BEEN GIVEN CLEARANCE TO DEVIATE AS NECESSARY FOR WEATHER AVOIDANCE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

PILOT'S DECISION TO FLY INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER AND THE RESULTANT IN FLIGHT BREAK UP OF THE AIRPLANE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/6/1992
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1800
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City BROUSSARD
Event State LOUISIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 70518
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 9
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1751 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 40
Weather Observation Facility ID LFT
Elevation of weather observation facility 1000
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 4400
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 17
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 23
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
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 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 3
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 678
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 6 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1830
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 48075
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:18PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7065Y
NTSB Number FTW92FA223
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 None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-30
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-30
Aircraft Serial Number 30-78
Certified Max Gross Weight 3600
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 4
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Aug 31 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 7
Airframe Hours 4880
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CAMACHO, RAUL
Aircraft Owner Street Address 105 KINGWOOD DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City ENTERPRISE
Aircraft Owner State AL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 36330
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name CAMACHO, RAUL
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 105 KINGWOOD DRIVE
Operator City ENTERPRISE
Operator State AL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 36330
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 6RO
Departure City SLIDELL
Departure State LA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1709
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code ILE
Destination City KILLEEN
Destination State TX
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
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 --