Wreckage Covered Area Approximately 1/2 Mile Long By 200 Feet
Wide
Another tragedy... and another case in which Mother Nature
appears to have played a part. We can't emphasize enough that the
power of weather to overpower the capabilities of ANY aircraft in
the wrong place and the wrong time is without question... and if
you, as Pilot-In-Command, have questions about your aircraft or
your ability to execute a flight, then stay on the ground so that
you family and friends can celebrate the holidays... instead of a
funeral.
NTSB Identification: CEN12FA108
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Monday, December 19, 2011 in Bryan, TX
Aircraft: PIPER PA-32-260, registration: N3590T
Injuries: 1 Fatal.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain
errors.
On December 19, 2011, about 2150 central standard time, a Piper
PA-32-260, N3590T, collided with terrain following an in-flight
breakup near Bryan, Texas. The instrument rated private pilot and
four passengers were fatally injured. The airplane was registered
to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of
Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Instrument
meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules
(IFR) flight plan had been filed for the personal flight. The
cross-country flight had originated from the Clayton County Airport
(4A7), Hampton, Georgia, approximately 1345. After a planed fuel
stop at the Jackson-Evers International Airport (JAN), Jackson,
Mississippi, the flight departed about 1750 for the TSTC Waco
Airport (CNW), Waco, Texas.
An initial review of air traffic control (ATC) recordings
revealed that the pilot was diverting around an area of
thunderstorms at the time of the accident. The pilot last reported
that he was in “bad” weather and was going to try to
get out of it. Following that transmission, radio and radar contact
was lost.
About 2150 an ear witness, located in her house, heard a sound
resembling an explosion. The witness reported that at the time she
heard the noise, the rain was falling as a light drizzle. However,
by the time she and her husband got outside to see what the
explosion was, the rain started pouring down. The witness’s
husband located the main airplane wreckage approximately 450 feet
southwest of their house. While searching for survivors they called
9-1-1.
The airplane came to rest in a pasture field, covering an area
approximately 1/2 mile long by 200 feet wide. There was no
postcrash fire. Following the on-site examination, the wreckage was
recovered to a secure facility.