Piper PA-24-180 N5935P
14 November 1991 · Coffeyville, Kansas, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 14 November 1991 at about 16:20 local time, a Piper PA-24-180 registered N5935P, operated by Gamache, Joseph C, was involved in an accident near Coffeyville, Kansas, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 16:20
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Coffeyville, Kansas, United States
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-180
- Registration
- N5935P
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Gamache, Joseph C
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Clinton → Derby
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- IMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- CHI92FA027
People
2 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED (ABOVE STALL SPEED) DURING THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURE. RELATED FACTORS ARE THE PILOT'S POOR PLANNING/DECISION, INATTENTIVENESS, AND THE WEATHER (LOW CEILING, GUSTY TAILWINDS).
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT TOOK OFF WITH FULL FUEL TANKS AND FLEW FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS 15 MINUTES BEFORE THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED NEAR THE ACCIDENT SITE, FLYING ERRATICALLY BENEATH A 300 TO 400 FOOT CEILING IN STRONG, GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS. WITNESSES REPORTED THE ENGINE SEEMED TO BE CUTTING IN AND OUT. THE AIRPLANE WAS NORTHBOUND WITH A 25 TO 40 KNOT TAILWIND WHEN IT WAS OBSERVED TO PITCH UP ABRUPTLY, ROTATE LEFT, AND NOSE DOWN INTO THE GROUND. POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF AIRFRAME, POWERPLANT AND SYSTEMS REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PRE-IMPACT FAILURE/DIFFICULTY. THE LEFT FUEL TANK WAS NEARLY FULL OF FUEL. THE RIGHT FUEL TANK WAS COMPROMISED AT IMPACT, HOWEVER THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL SPILLAGE AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. THE LANDING GEAR WAS EXTENDED, FUEL BOOST PUMP WAS ON, AND THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS JAMMED IN AN INTERMEDIATE POSITION. FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS (USING 75%) INDICATED AS MUCH AS HALF THE AVAILABLE FUEL MAY HAVE BEEN BURNED.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-24 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 Oct 1991 | Piper PA-24-250 | Ellicott, Colorado, United States | Southwest Aircraft Recovery | Minor injuries | - |
| 3 Feb 1991 | Piper PA-24-260 | Cordele, Georgia, United States | Carter, Richard C. | Fatal | 3 |
| 30 Mar 1991 | Piper PA-24-250 | Franklin, Tennessee, United States | Hannasch, Thomas P. | Fatal | 1 |
| 12 Nov 1991 | Piper PA-24-260 | Charles City, Iowa, United States | Culbert Aeronautics | No injuries | - |
| 1 Dec 1991 | Piper PA-24-180 | Sandston, Virginia, United States | Michael Kroll | Serious injuries | - |
| 15 Sep 1991 | Piper PA-24-260 | Tehachapi, California, United States | James W. Hager | No injuries | - |
All 2,700 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 May 1991 | Beechcraft 58P | Wichita, Kansas, United States | Airparts Company, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 19 Jan 1991 | Rans S-11 PURSUIT | Hays, Kansas, United States | Randall J. Schlitter | Serious injuries | - |
| 8 Mar 1991 | Cessna A-188 | Harper, Kansas, United States | Midwest AG, Inc. | Fatal | 1 |
| 6 May 1991 | Cessna A188B | Mingo, Kansas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 13 Jun 1991 | Piper PA-36-300 | Oakley, Kansas, United States | John Holzmeister | No injuries | - |
| 19 Jul 1991 | Grumman G-164A | Sharon Springs, Kansas, United States | James L. Bussen | No injuries | - |