Piper PA-34-220T accident near Tomball, Texas, November 6, 2005
On November 6, 2005 at about 1:55 pm local time, a Piper PA-34-220T, registered N4171Z, was destroyed in an accident near Tomball, Texas (David Wayne Hooks airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the aircraft while attempting to execute a missed approach procedure in weather that was below landing minimums. Contributing factors were the low ceiling, and the below approach landing minimums.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 6, 2005 · about 1:55 pm local time
- Place
- Tomball, Texas · David Wayne Hooks · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-34-220T · all PA-34-220Ts on the register
- Registration
- N4171Z · no longer on the register · serial 3449065
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The instrument rated commercial pilot lost control of the twin-engine airplane while attempting to execute a missed approach following a Localizer (LOC) approach to runway 17R while operating in instrument meteorological conditions that were below the prescribed minimums for the approach. The airplane impacted east of runway 17R near the airport boundary on a heading of 345 degrees. Radar data depicted that the airplane remained right of the approach course throughout the instrument approach, and showed the airplane begin a right turn at about 300 feet MSL, then turn to the left, and initiate a climb. The airplane continued to a heading of 105 degrees, with altitudes between 300 and 800 feet prior to beginning a descent. The airplane was observed to disappear into the clouds by tower personnel and was seen coming out of the clouds by witnesses at a high rate of descent with the left wing in a near vertical attitude. A witness stated that the airplane was at an altitude of 300-400 feet above the ground when it came out of the clouds. A second witness reported that he heard a low flying aircraft, and then observed a twin-engine airplane banking left out of the clouds, then level out, and appear to attempt to climb but was too low. A detailed examination of the wreckage of the airplane and the engines did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical anomalies. A weather observation taken approximately 2 minutes after the accident included a visibility 1 3/4 statue miles with mist, and an overcast ceiling at 300 feet. The approach minumums for LOC 17R requied a 500 foot or better ceiling, and at least one mile visibility.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,796 hours in all; 43 in this make and model; 66 in the last 90 days; 43 in the last 30 days; 1,713 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 472.2 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 1, 2005
- Maximum gross weight: 4,750 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Teledyne Continental TSI0360RB1B (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Teledyne Continental LTSI0360RB1B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: V & R Enterprises, LLC
The flight
- Departed from: T82 Fredericksburg TX at 12:45 pm
- Destination: DHW Tomball TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 17R, 7,009 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 1.8 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 300 ft; clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 1:57 pm from DHW, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.