Piper PA-31T accident near Hobbs, New Mexico, February 5, 2002
On February 5, 2002 at about 1:07 am local time, a Piper PA-31T, registered N794CA, was destroyed in an accident near Hobbs, New Mexico (Lea County Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain the proper glidepath during the instrument approach. Contributing factors were the dark night light conditions and the pilot's diverted attention.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 5, 2002 · about 1:07 am local time
- Place
- Hobbs, New Mexico · Lea County Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31T · all PA-31Ts on the register
- Registration
- N794CA · registry record · serial 31T-8120018
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
At the conclusion of a dark night IMC cross-country flight, the pilot was being vectored onto the ILS approach. After stabilizing, the approach "was normal." At decision altitude, the pilot indicated that he could see the approach lights and the runway, but was not in a position to land so he executed a missed approach. After being vectored around for another approach, he stated that he was on the localizer but was "high" on the glide slope. After giving "a little" nose down pitch, he became distracted when the auto-pilot became "accidentally disengaged." The pilot stated that he "inadvertently descended through the glide slope and impacted the ground short of the runway." He further stated that the "first indication" that he was low was when the aircraft "struck the ground." The aircraft was destroyed on impact. A facility check conducted by the FAA of the ILS found all parameters within normal specifications.
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: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,893 hours in all; 765 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 2,893 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 18, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,900 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 15, 2001; 100 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,050 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney PT6-28 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney PT6-28 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LAS Las Vegas NV at 11:00 pm
- Destination: HOB Hobbs NM
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 120° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 200 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observation at 1:07 am from HOB
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.