What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On August 23, 2001, at approximately 1730 central daylight time, a Piper PA-18 airplane, N91178, registered to and operated by the us border patrol of marfa, Texas, was destroyed when it impacted terrain in the vicinity of van horn, Texas in culberso county. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company flight plan was filed for the title 14 code of federal regulations part 91 public use flight. The aerial observation flight originated from marfa, Texas at 1645. The pilot reported he was flying at an altitude of about 500 AGL, and while in a normal turn the "bottom fell out from under me." The aircraft impacted the ground and the pilot evacuated with minor injuries.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON AUGUST 23, 2001, AT APPROXIMATELY 1730 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A PIPER PA-18 AIRPLANE, N91178, REGISTERED TO AND OPERATED BY THE US BORDER PATROL OF MARFA, TEXAS, WAS DESTROYED WHEN IT IMPACTED TERRAIN IN THE VICINITY OF VAN HORN, TEXAS IN CULBERSO COUNTY. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT, WHO WAS THE SOLE OCCUPANT, SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND A COMPANY FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91 PUBLIC USE FLIGHT. THE AERIAL OBSERVATION FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM MARFA, TEXAS AT 1645. THE PILOT REPORTED HE WAS FLYING AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 500 AGL, AND WHILE IN A NORMAL TURN THE "BOTTOM FELL OUT FROM UNDER ME." THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND AND THE PILOT EVACUATED WITH MINOR INJURIES.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N91187 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.