Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Matador, Texas 79244
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 15:10 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that while the airplane was climbing through approximately 700 feet above the ground the engine lost all power. He decided to land the airplane in a small clearing, but was unable to reach the area and landed in mesquite brush. During the landing, the left wing sustained substantial damage. A postaccident examination of the airplane did not discover any abnormalities that would have contributed to the loss of engine power.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The loss of engine power during initial climb for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/26/2011
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1510
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Matador
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 79244
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 340007N
Event Location Longitude 1004850W
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1453 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 38
Weather Observation Facility ID KCDS
Elevation of weather observation facility 1954
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 36
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 6000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 14
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 20
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 14
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.16
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KCDS 262053Z AUTO 02011G14KT 10SM SCT060 14/
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 28184
NTSB Notification Source FAA Regional Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 29 2011 4:23PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9478W
NTSB Number CEN11LA161
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-235
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 28-11211
Certified Max Gross Weight 2900
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 19 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 3373
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name N223BT LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City BALLINGER
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 76821-4608
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name James Ralph Bennett
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City BALLINGER
Operator State TX
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 76821-4608
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Matador
Departure State TX
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1510
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code E30
Destination City Ballinger
Destination State TX
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 29 2011 4:23PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --