Pilot Debrief

Piper PA24 near San Antonio, TX — 2019-12-02

Final reportCEN20FA023
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Date
2019-12-02
Location
San Antonio, TX, USA
Airport
SAT
Aircraft
Piper PA24
Registration
N6678P
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
3
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The loss of engine power for reason that could not be determined. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control while maneuvering to landing which resulted in an inadvertent stall/spin with insufficient altitude to recover.

Contributing factors

Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control while maneuvering to landing which resulted in an inadvertent stall/spin with insufficient altitude to recover.

NTSB narrative

While en route to the destination, the pilot reported to air traffic control that he had an “engine failure” and declared an emergency. The pilot was cleared to land at another airport and responded that he would be “circling above” the airport before landing. Flight track data revealed that the airplane procced away from the runway, then descended and turned back inbound. Analysis of ADS-B data revealed that the calibrated airspeed decreased below the airplane published stall speed of 56 knots. The tower controller and a ground witness observed the airplane in a steep nose down attitude and spiral into the ground. Surveillance video also captured the airplane in a steep descent and counterclockwise spiral before it impacted terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the empennage, and the fuselage. Examination of the airplane and engine did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Chordwise scratches were detected on 2 of the 3 propellers blades, which indicates that the engine was likely producing some power at the time of impact. It could not be determined what kind of engine malfunction the pilot experienced. It also could not be determined if the pilot intended to continue the approach to the runway or to land on a nearby street. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with the loss of engine power reported by the pilot for undetermined reasons because an examination of the engine did not reveal any preimpact malfunctions. The pilot subsequently allowed the airspeed to decrease below stall speed while maneuvering to land, which resulted in an inadvertent stall/spin on approach with insufficient altitude to recover.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted the approach after declaring engine failure.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • ATC audio
  • Video
  • ADS-B / radar
  • Photos
  • 18 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents18

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