Denton Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Denton, Texas 76202
Tuesady, August 7, 1990 21:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT WAS SUPERVISING THE STUDENT PILOT IN THE CONDUCT OF A SINGLE-ENGINE APPROACH AND LANDING. THE NIGHT APPROACH WAS CONTINUED TO A SHORT FINAL. THE INSTRUCTOR ASSUMED CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE, DUE TO OVER-CONTROLLING ON THE PART OF THE STUDENT PILOT. HE INITIATED A GO-AROUND, REQUESTING THAT THE STUDENT PILOT ADVANCE THE THROTTLES. HE DID NOT VERIFY THAT THE THROTTLES HAD BEEN ADVANCED. CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE WAS LOST, WHEN VMC WAS NOT MAINTAINED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT'S FAILURE TO TAKE CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT IN A TIMELY MANNER, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL. A FACTOR WAS THE INSTRUCTOR'S FAILURE TO ASSUME CONTROL OF THE THROTTLES, AND AIRCRAFT ENGINE OUT CAPABILITY EXCEEDED.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/7/1990
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 2100
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City DENTON
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 76202
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport DENTON MUNICIPAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID DTO
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 641
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 Night/Dark
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) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 30
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) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
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 --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1572
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 8 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 730
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 42843
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 5:16PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N15515
NTSB Number FTW90LA153
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 Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-34-200
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-34-200
Aircraft Serial Number 34-7350071
Certified Max Gross Weight 4200
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 6
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Aug 3 1990 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 4
Airframe Hours 4494
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PATCO CONSTRUCTION CO.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 104
Aircraft Owner City BEAVER DAM
Aircraft Owner State KY
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 42320
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name PAUL M. ATKINSON
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 4576 CLAIRE CHENAULT
Operator City ADDISON
Operator State TX
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 75248
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code H2Q
Departure City MESQUITE
Departure State TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 2000
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
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 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 35
Runway Length 5000
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --