ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 231024
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| Date: | Sunday 1 December 2019 |
| Time: | 18:25 |
| Type: |  Piper PA-24-250 Comanche |
| Owner/operator: | RTW Capital LLC |
| Registration: | N6678P |
| MSN: | 24-1802 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1960 |
| Engine model: | Lycoming O-540-A1D5 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | near San Antonio International Airport (SAT/KSAT), TX -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Approach |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Houston-Sugar Land Regional Airport, TX (SGR/KSGR) |
| Boerne Stage Airfield, TX (5C1) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
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.
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.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2019/12/02/plane-crash-reported-in-north-side-neighborhood/
NTSB
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/N6678P
http://www.airport-data.com/images/aircraft/large/000/435/435678.jpg
https://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=6678P
http://www.airport-data.com/images/aircraft/large/000/435/435678.jpg (photo)
Location
Images:
Photos(c): NTSB
Media:
An emergency landing went horribly wrong Sunday night as a small plane crashed in San Antonio, leaving three dead, according to fire officials https://t.co/FuInzNaHQe pic.twitter.com/eIYnZQ1FUZ
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) December 2, 2019
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 02-Dec-2019 04:50 | rgferrell | Added |
| 02-Dec-2019 05:54 | Geno | Updated [Aircraft type, Operator, Location, Source, Damage] |
| 02-Dec-2019 07:12 | Iceman 29 | Updated [Source, Embed code, Damage] |
| 02-Dec-2019 07:13 | Iceman 29 | Updated [Embed code, Narrative] |
| 02-Dec-2019 07:16 | Iceman 29 | Updated [Departure airport, Destination airport, Narrative] |
| 02-Dec-2019 08:02 | Iceman 29 | Updated [Embed code] |
| 02-Dec-2019 19:44 | gretna | Updated [Narrative] |
| 02-Dec-2019 21:29 | RobertMB | Updated [Location, Phase, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 07-Mar-2020 18:21 | Anon. | Updated [Embed code] |
| 15-Mar-2022 23:57 | Captain Adam | Updated [Time, Source, Narrative, Category, Accident report, Photo] |
| 15-Mar-2022 23:57 | Captain Adam | Updated [Narrative, Photo] |
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