# NTSB CEN24LA323: Piper PA-28-180, N3591R, Cut and Shoot, TX, August 21, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 21, 2024, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Cut and Shoot, TX - Coordinates: 30.314357, -95.327123 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3144&lon=-95.3271&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Houston FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 194979 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA323 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194979/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194979 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA323 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during a go-around that resulted in an impact with a fence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Course deviation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/281); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/281/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/281/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to complete a second solo cross country. The student pilot flew to the planned destination airport where she performed a touch and go landing and then returned to the originating airport. During the final approach for landing, she lined up with the runway centerline; however, as the airplane got closer to the ground, she realized she had drifted too far left of the centerline. The student pilot attempted a go around but was not able to gain enough altitude to clear a nearby fence. The airplane’s left wing struck the fence, and the airplane came down on the fence to a stop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3591R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3591R), registered now, S/N 28-5704, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-5704 - Year built: 1970 - Airframe hours: 10713.28 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Chennault Aviation Academy - Registered owner: Awmr LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 13, 2024 - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: 25TX, Chennault Airfield, runway 17, 3,100 × 70 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 17; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 45 total, 45 in this make and model, 4 as pilot in command, 38 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 99 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: CXO, 5 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20240821013579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240821013579A), Aug 21, 2024: Piper PA-28-180, Cut And Shoot, TX, Substantial damage. [privacy data omitted] Was arriving rwy 17 on a training/solo flight for ratings. Aircraft touched down left of centerline and continued off the runway till… ## Other investigations on N3591R (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 OAK76FVW30](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK76FVW30), Jun 24, 1976: Piper PA-28 (N3591R), Las Vegas, NV, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 19, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194979. 4.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17761805&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=UPDATED%20NTSB%20form%20(003)_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 908 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17762671&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Template-Rel.pdf 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.