# NTSB FTW81DRA55: Piper PA-18, N1959A, Palacios, TX, August 25, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: August 25, 1981
- Place: Palacios, TX · PALACIOS, TX
- Location: 28.7131° N, 96.2279° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Palacios, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.7131&lon=-96.2279&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 23, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 125107
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW81DRA55
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81DRA55

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1769  81/8/25    PALACIOS,TX         PIPER PA-18         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 50, 181
        TIME - 0755                    N1959A              PX-  0  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 177 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - KABACAS RANCH
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          PALACIOS,TX                 LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER LEVEL OFF
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISUSED OR FAILED TO USE FLAPS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - POORLY PLANNED APPROACH
        REMARKS- MADE TURNING FLARE W PARTIAL FLAPS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1959A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1959A), registered now, S/N 18-1801, built 1952 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18A](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18a) (registry code 7101804) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Kabacas Ranch

## 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 19810825052669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810825052669A), Aug 25, 1981: Piper PA18A, Palacios, TX, Substantial damage. Pilot leveled off high. Stalled and made hard landing, causing crash.

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.