# NTSB FTW81FRG56: Piper PA-23, N215EC, Hondo, TX, July 27, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: July 27, 1981
- Place: Hondo, TX · HONDO, TX
- Location: 29.3542° N, 99.1618° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Hondo, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.3542&lon=-99.1618&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 4, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 125436
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW81FRG56
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81FRG56

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0186  81/7/27    HONDO,TX            PIPER PA-23         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 45, 2430
        TIME - 1530                    N215EC              PX-  0  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 1687 IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - HONDO MUNI
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SAN ANTONIO,TX              HONDO,TX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER LEVEL OFF
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
           WEATHER - WIND SHEAR
        WEATHER BRIEFING - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          SCATTERED                                                UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          NONE                                                     LEFT QUARTERING HEAD WIND 293-337 DEGREES
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- PLT REPORTED WIND SHEAR.R WING DMGD.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N215EC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N215EC-2012-08-10), registration cancelled 2012-08-10, S/N 23-1178, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23) (registry code 7102302) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Hondo Muni

## 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 19810727048859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810727048859A), Jul 27, 1981: Piper PA23, Hondo, TX, Substantial damage. Gusty surface winds. Allowed aircraft to stall on short final. Impact on runway broke wing spar.

## Other investigations on N215EC (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 FTW84FA074](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW84FA074), Nov 25, 1983: Piper PA-23 (N215EC), Comfort, TX, destroyed, 4 fatal

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.