Piper PA-16 N6883K

Summary

On 20 March 1997 at about 23:35 local time, a Piper PA-16 registered N6883K was involved in an accident near Abilene, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 March 1997 at 23:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Abilene, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Elmdale Airpark (6F4)

Coordinates

32.4500, -99.7302

Aircraft

Piper PA-16

Registration

N6883K

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW97LA139

Nobody was injured.

The unlatching of the front bench seat for an undetermined reason.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

During the takeoff roll, the bench style front seat fell backward, and neither the flight instructor nor the student pilot could reach the controls. The tailwheel equipped airplane ground looped to the left at full throttle, and the right wing tip and right horizontal stabilizer struck the ground. An FAA inspector examined the airplane and reported that the seat adjustment pin came out of the locking hole allowing the seat to slide back to the point where it became uncaptured and rolled over. The flight instructor stated that a 'better seat latch or a positive seat retainer' could have prevented the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.