KINGSVILLE, TX, USA
N8988P
PIPER PA-24-260
ON 3/17/82 A WX BRIEFER ADVISED THE PILOT ALL OF TEXAS WOULD BE UNDER INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITONS ON THE MORNINGOF 3/18/82. THERE WAS NO RECORD OF A FLT PLAN FILED BY THE PILOT OF N8988P AND THE DEPARTURE TIME FROM KINGSVILLE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE WAS FOUND THE NEXT MORNING 1.5 MILES SOUTHEAST OF THE AIRPORT IN A PLOWEDFIELD. EXAMINATION OF THE VACUUM DRIVEN ATTITUDE GYRO AFTER THE ACCIDENT REVEALED EVIDENCE OF PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION. TESTING REVEALED THAT THE GYRO WOULD NOT ERECT PROPERLY DUE TO DIRTY SPINDLE BEARINGS. NO OTHER PREIMPACT MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES WERE FOUND. THE PILOT OF N8988P LOGGED A TOTAL OF 2.6 HOURS OF INSTRUMENT FLT IN THE SIX MONTHS PREVIOUS TO THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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