# NTSB FTW84LA022: Piper PA-38, N2395L, Crystal City, TX, October 14, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 14, 1983, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Crystal City, TX
- Location: 28.6907° N, 99.8271° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Crystal City, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.6907&lon=-99.8271&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21182
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW84LA022
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21182/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW84LA022

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

WHILE LANDING ON A RANCH STRIP, THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED & SUDDEN GUST OF WIND & DRIFTED OFF THE PAVEMENT. THE WING & GEAR OF THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TALL SUNFLOWER THAT WERE GROWING BESIDE THE STRIP. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED & THE ACFT NOSED OVER. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, THE WIND WAS FROM 100 DEG AT 15 GUSTING 20 KTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N2395L (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-38
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 38-79A0692
- Airframe hours: 1150
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 108 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Sagebrush Publishing Co.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 17, 1983
- Departed: TEMPLE, TX
- Airport: Cometa Farms, runway 15, 3,000 ×  ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 23; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 60 total, 60 in this make and model, 38 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 100° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 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 19831014054499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831014054499A), Oct 14, 1983: Piper PA38112, Crystal City, TX, Substantial damage. Aircraft drifted off runway during landing and wing caught in vegetation on side of runway causing noseover.

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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