N/A Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mabank, Texas 75147
Saturday, October 6, 2012 9:45 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot obtained a weather briefing the day before the accident; however, no record was found indicating that he obtained an updated briefing on the day of the flight, which would have included weather advisories for instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) surrounding the airplane's route of flight. After encountering low clouds at the destination airport, the pilot requested a clearance to divert to another nearby airport, and he was provided the clearance. No further radio transmissions were received. The airplane crashed between the two airports. Photographs of the flight conditions taken by a pilot flying in the area about the time of the accident showed low, overcast clouds above the airplane. A review of logbook entries and mechanic's statements did not reveal any unresolved maintenance or airworthiness issues. A postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Propeller and internal engine components exhibited damage consistent with the production of power at the time of the accident. Therefore, on the basis of the evidence, the pilot most likely lost control of the airplane while maneuvering in IMC.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's loss of airplane control while maneuvering in instrument meteorological conditions.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/6/2012
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 945
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Mabank
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 75147
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 322839N
Event Location Longitude 0960354W
Event Location Airport N/A
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 953 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 324
Weather Observation Facility ID TRL
Elevation of weather observation facility 474
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 17
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 600
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 20
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.16
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report KTRL 061453Z AUTO 02010KT 10SM OVC006 12/09 A3016
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 4
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 32119
NTSB Notification Source FAA-ASW-ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 19 2013 2:35PM
User who most recently changed record male
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N32GP
NTSB Number CEN13FA006
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BEECH
Aircraft Model A36
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number E-2230
Certified Max Gross Weight 3666
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 13 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 2452
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C126
Aircraft Owner Name PALM-L AVIATION LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City SOUTH LAKE
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 760929000
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name PALM-L AVIATION LLC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City SOUTH LAKE
Operator State TX
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 760929000
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 52F
Departure City Roanoke
Departure State TX
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 845
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Athens
Destination State TX
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 19 2013 2:35PM
User who most recently changed record male
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 --