Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Amarillo, Texas 79051
Monday, November 14, 1988 11:10 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE MANEUVERING FOR ANOTHER SWATH RUN, THE AIRCRAFT STALLED AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. A FIRE ERUPTED AND DESTROYED THE AIRCRAFT. NO EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. ABOUT 8 MI WEST AT AMARILLO, TX, THE 1100 CST WIND WAS REPORTED TO BE FROM 250 DEG AT 19 GUSTING 28 KTS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

FAILURE ON THE PART OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER AIRSPEED FOR THE MANEUVER BEING PERFORMED, FOLLOWED BY A STALL AT AN ALTITUDE INSUFFICIENT TO RECOVER.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/14/1988
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1110
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City AMARILLO
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 79051
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 11
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 Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1151 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 85
Weather Observation Facility ID AMA
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 8
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
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) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 19
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 28
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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 --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2274
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 14 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1230
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 40086
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:17PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8547L
NTSB Number FTW89DQG02
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-25
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-25
Aircraft Serial Number 25-4567
Certified Max Gross Weight 2900
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 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name TAYLOR, STANLEY W
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 178
Aircraft Owner City TULIA
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 79088
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name TAYLOR, WINDELL STAN
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address BOX 178
Operator City TULIA
Operator State TX
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 79088
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Unknown
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Unknown
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Unknown
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1040
Departure Time Zone CST
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 Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
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 --