# NTSB FTW83LA124: Piper PA-32R-300, N47976, Arcola, TX, February 19, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 19, 1983, 15:45 local (21:45 UTC)
- Place: Arcola, TX
- Coordinates: 29.370361, -95.450286 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.3704&lon=-95.4503&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 20816
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW83LA124
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20816/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW83LA124

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
  - landing gear - overload (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS LANDING ON RUNWAY 10 WITH A WIND FROM THE SOUTHEAST & GUSTING. HE REPORTED THAT A STRONG GUST CAUGHT THE ACFT JUST AT TOUCHDOWN, CAUSING THE LEFT MAIN GEAR TO CONTACT A SOFT SHOULDER WHICH SLOPED AWAY FROM THE PAVEMENT. REPORTEDLY, THIS PULLED THE ACFT OFF OF THE RUNWAY. THE PLT CORRECTED THE HEADING & PARALLELED THE RUNWAY. HOWEVER, DURING THE ROLL-OUT, THE LEFT MAIN GEAR CONTACTED THE RAISED LIP OF A CROSSING TAXIWAY & COLLAPSED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N47976 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32R-300
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32R7880030
- Airframe hours: 1935
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1G5D 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Lance 976 Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 1982
- Departed: AAP, HOUSTON, TX
- Airport: Arcola, runway 10, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 333 total, 8 in this make and model, 249 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 135° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19830219004589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830219004589A), Feb 19, 1983: Piper PA32R300, Arcola, TX, Substantial damage. Drifted on level off. Left main gear touched down on slope off runway and struck the lip of a taxiway.

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.