Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Commercial Pt, Ohio 43116
Tuesady, November 24, 1987 19:39 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACFT CRASHED ON A WHEAT FIELD DURING A NIGHT INSTRUMENT TRAINING FLT. THE PLT HAD DECLARED A VACUUM SYSTEM FAILURE ABOUT 40 MINUTES AFTER TAKE-OFF BUT HE DECLINED ATC ASSISTANCE FOR A NO-GYRO APPROACH TO COLUMBUS. TWO MINUTES AFTER THE RADIO CALL RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST. RADAR DATA DISCLOSED ERRATIC HEADING AND AIRSPEED CHANGES DURING THE LAST MINUTE OF FLT. DURING THE POST ACC INVESTIGATION EACH OF THE INSTRUMENTS WAS FOUND TO CONTAIN A SUCTION CUP. BUT NO EVIDENCE OF FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE VACUUM SYSTEM WAS FOUND. THE ACFT HAD ALSO BEEN MODIFIED WITH A STAND BY VACUUM SYSTEM FOR USE IN AN EMERGENCY AFTER FAILURE OF THE PRIMARY SYSTEM. ONLY PIECES OF THE SYSTEM WERE FOUND DUE TO THE DESTRUCTION OF THE ACFT BUT THE AVAILABLE EVIDENCE SHOWED NO SIGNS OF MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE. SUCTION CUPS, LIKE THE ONE FOUND, ARE USED BY INSTRUCTORS TO COVER INSTRUMENTS FOR PARTIAL PANEL TRAINING.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/24/1987
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1939
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City COMMERCIAL PT
Event State OHIO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 43116
Event Date Year 1987
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 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1855
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID CMH
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 3500
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) 3
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 10
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 110
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2080
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 24 1987 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2149
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 35423
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 2:58PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8046X
NTSB Number ATL88FA044
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-32R-301
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-32R-301
Aircraft Serial Number 32R8213024
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 23 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 73
Airframe Hours 1840
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SCOPE LEASING
Aircraft Owner Street Address 150 E WILSON BRIDGE RD
Aircraft Owner City COLUMBUS
Aircraft Owner State OH
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 43085
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name SCOPE LEASING
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 150 E. WILSON BRIDGE RD
Operator City COLUMBUS
Operator State OH
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 43085
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
Departure City COLUMBUS
Departure State OH
Departure Country
Departure Time 1858
Departure Time Zone EDT
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 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --