Casualties unknown

Altimeter Mis-set During VOR Approach Leads to Early Touchdown (N5443)

Plainview, TX, US

On November 13, 1996, a Piper PA-23-250 (registration N5443) operated by Billy D. Hardage was involved in an aviation accident near Plainview, TX. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the pilot's continued descent below the minimum descent altitude (MDA). Factors relating to the accident were: darkness, the adverse weather conditions. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot on an instrument flight to Hale County Airport touched down 3/4 mile from the runway threshold after mis-setting the altimeter to 30.67 inches instead of the reported 30.42 inches.

Incident Overview

During an instrument flight to Hale County Airport, the pilot was initially assigned an altitude of 8,000 feet, later revised to 10,000 feet for the en route portion. As the aircraft neared the Plainview VOR, air traffic control cleared the pilot for the published VOR approach to runway 04. The controller twice issued the current Lubbock altimeter setting of 30.42 inches of mercury.

Approach and Touchdown

The airplane, with its landing gear extended, touched down on the extended centerline of runway 04 approximately three-quarters of a mile from the landing threshold. The minimum descent altitude for the approach was 3,840 feet, while the field elevation was 3,372 feet. The top of the fog layer was reported at 4,200 feet.

Post-Incident Examination

Examination of the airplane revealed that the pilot's altimeter was set to 30.67 inches of mercury, a deviation from the reported setting of 30.42 inches. The source does not provide any further details regarding damage, injuries, or the outcome of the flight.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001208X07031. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.