# NTSB FTW81DRG44: Piper PA-24, N6637P, Belton, TX, June 2, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: June 2, 1981
- Place: Belton, TX · BELTON, TX
- Location: 31.0523° N, 97.4795° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Belton, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.0523&lon=-97.4795&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 27, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 125509
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW81DRG44
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81DRG44

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1207   81/6/2  NR.BELTON,TX          PIPER PA-24         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 50, 503
        TIME - 1115                    N6637P              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 209 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MESQUITE,TX                 SAN ANTONIO,TX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           TURBULENCE                                               IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           AIRFRAME FAILURE                                         IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - SUSPECTED OR KNOWN AIRCRAFT DAMAGE
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          SCATTERED                                                UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     RAIN SHOWERS
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          NONE                                                     210
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           12                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6637P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6637P), registered now, S/N 24-1759, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19810602034259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810602034259A), Jun 2, 1981: Piper PA24250, Belton, TX, Substantial damage. Aircraft damaged due to severe turbulence in vicinity of thunderstorms.

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.

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