N/A Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bullard, Texas 75757
Wednesday, September 12, 2012 14:55 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane was en route to its destination when witnesses observed it making several turns before it pitched nose-up, climbed, rolled to the right, and then descended nose-down to the ground. Several witnesses observed airplane components floating to the ground behind the airplane. All witnesses reported hearing loud engine noises throughout the event. Impact signatures were consistent with a nose-down attitude with a near-vertical descent angle. Distribution of the airplane wreckage supported the observation by eyewitnesses of an in-flight breakup. An examination found that both wings failed in overload with positive wing loading. In addition, there was no evidence of flight control over-travel or flutter. It could not be determined whether the pilot intended to perform the abnormal maneuver that resulted in an overload of the airplane or if it was the result of a physiological issue.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's maneuver, which exceeded the airplane's structural limit and resulted in an in-flight breakup.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/12/2012
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1455
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Bullard
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 75757
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 320815N
Event Location Longitude 0952558W
Event Location Airport N/A
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport --
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 Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 7
Weather Observation Facility ID KTYR
Elevation of weather observation facility 544
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
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) 32
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 130
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.03
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 32048
NTSB Notification Source DAL FSDO
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 14 2013 9:31AM
User who most recently changed record aguj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4842P
NTSB Number CEN12FA628
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Unknown
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-23-250
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 27-413
Certified Max Gross Weight 4800
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 2
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 4
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 31 2012 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 9
Airframe Hours 6085
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C126
Aircraft Owner Name X AVIATION LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 12103 BRADEN WAY
Aircraft Owner City HOUSTON
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 77089-2247
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Individual
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City New Waverly
Operator State TX
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
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 KDWH
Departure City Houston
Departure State TX
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1355
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code KTYR
Destination City Tyler
Destination State TX
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 14 2013 9:31AM
User who most recently changed record aguj
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --