Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Tilden, Texas 78072
Thursday, April 25, 1985 13:00 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AFTER APRX 1.5 HRS OF PIPELINE PATROL FLIGHT AT A PLANNED ALTITUDE OF 500 AGL THE ACFT FLEW INTO THE FLAT TERRAIN IN A LANDING ATTITUDE. THE ACFT WENT THROUGH A WIRE FENCE, HEAVY BRUSH AND SMALL TREES BEFORE COMING TO REST 437 FT FROM INITIAL GROUND CONTACT WITH ALL 3 GEAR COLLAPSED. A PHYSICAL EXAMINATION AND THE PILOT'S STATEMENT INDICATE THAT THE PILOT WAS OPERATING UNDER AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF STRESS WHICH MAY HAVE RESULTED IN CHRONIC FATIGUE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE WAS ACCUSTOMED TO A VERY HEAVY FLIGHT SCHEDULE. THE CHIEF PILOT ATTEMPTED TO ASSIGN AN ADDITIONAL PILOT BUT COMPANY BUDGET CONSTRAINTS PREVENTED SUCH AN ASSIGNMENT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/25/1985
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1300
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City TILDEN
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 78072
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 4
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 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
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 25000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 32
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 2000
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 --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2128
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 25 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 730
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 29538
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N76L
NTSB Number FTW85LA198
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PARTENAVIA
Aircraft Model P68C
Aircraft Series Identifier P68C
Aircraft Serial Number 292
Certified Max Gross Weight 4000
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 --
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Apr 15 1985 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 34
Airframe Hours 727
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name TRANSCONTINENTAL GAS PIPELINE
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 1396
Aircraft Owner City HOUSTON
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 77001
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code CRP
Departure City CORPUS CHRISTI
Departure State TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 1140
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code IAH
Destination City HOUSTON
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 10:36AM
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 --