# Accident 19990721042899A: Piper PA-28, Alvarado, TX, July 21, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 21, 1999, 11:00 local time
- Place: Alvarado, TX
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.4093° N, 97.2101° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4093&lon=-97.2101&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5230W, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5230W) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28 (registry code 7102801, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Pilot certificates: Student
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW99LA200](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW99LA200) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990721042899A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) ON JULY 21, 1999, AY 1100 CST, A PIPER PA-28-160, N5230W, OWNED BY RONALD W. CONNOLLY AT^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ STRUCK A BARBED WIRE FENCE WHILE ON A APPROACH INTO LUSCOMBE AIRPORT. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE MR. CONNOLLY WAS TAKING HIS PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATION CHECK RIDE. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS EXITSTED AT THE TIME, AND A FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED. AIRCRAFT DAMAGE WAS SUBSTANTIAL, AND THE OCCUPANTS WERE NOT INJURED. THE PILOT HOLDS A STUDENT PILOT CERTIFICATE. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT LUSCOMBE AIRPORT ON JULY 21, 1999 AT APPROX. 1040 CST.  MR. CONNOLLY STATED HE WAS CONDUCTING A SHORT FIELD APPROACH AND LANDING AND KNEW HE WAS LOW FOR THE APPROACH. HE STATED HE APPLIED POWER UNTIL HE THOUGHT HE WOULD BECLEAR OF THE FENCE AND THEN TOOK THE POWER OUT. THE A/C THEN SUNK TOO LOW AND STRUCK THE FENCE.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     (.19) ON JULY 21, 1999, AT 1100 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A PIPER PA-28-160 SINGLE-ENGINE AIRPLANE, N5230W, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHEN IT STRUCK A FENCE WHILE LANDING AT THE LUSCOMBE ACRES AIRPORT NEAR ALVAREDO, TEXAS. THE STUDENT PILOT AND AN FAA DESIGNATED EXAMINER WERE NOT INJURED.  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91 EVALUATION FLIGHT, AND A FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED.  THE LOCAL FLIGHT DEPARTED FROM LUSCOMBE ACRES AIRPORT APPROXIMATELY 1040.                    THE STUDENT WAS TAKING HIS CHECK RIDE TO OBTAIN HIS PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATE.  THE STUDENT WAS ATTEMPTING TO PERFORM A SHORT-FIELD LANDING.  DURING THE APPROACH, THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED A FENCE AND FENCE POSTS.  ACCORDING TO A WRITTEN STATEMENT PROVIDED TO THE FAA, THE PILOT STATED THAT HE ALLOWED THE AIRCRAFT TO GET "TOO SHALLOW."  HE FURTHER STATED THAT HE "APPLIED POWER TO CORRECT ALTITUDE AND THOUGHT [HE] HAD IT UNDER CONTROL, SO [HE] TOOK POWER OUT, AND [THE] AIRCRAFT FELL SHORT."                                                                                                                                                                                           ACCORDING TO THE FAA INSPECTOR WHO EXAMINED THE AIRPLANE, DAMAGE INCLUDED A2 INCH WIDE BY 12 INCH LONG GASH IN THE RIGHT WING, A PUNCTURED LEFT FUEL RTANK AND DENTS IN THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER AND FLAPS.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW99LA200](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW99LA200), Jul 21, 1999: Piper PA-28-160 (N5230W), Alvaredo, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's failure to maintain a proper glidepath during his short-field approach.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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