# NTSB FTW84LA279: Piper PA-22-135, N3491N, Cleburne, TX, June 17, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 17, 1984, 18:05 local (23:05 UTC)
- Place: Cleburne, TX
- Coordinates: 32.349052, -97.329833 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.3491&lon=-97.3298&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): 21374
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW84LA279
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21374/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW84LA279

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - planned approach - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - proper descent rate - exceeded, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, landing
  - weather condition - crosswind
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, landing
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

LANDING APCH TOO HIGH. PLT FLARED TOO HIGH ABOVE GROUND RESULTING IN AN EXCESSIVE SINK RATE ON INITIAL TOUCHDOWN. ACFT BOUNCED BACK INTO AIR IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE AND 'A VERY LOW RATE OF SPEED.' PLT LOST CONTROL OF ACFT AS RT QUARTERING HEADWIND BLEW ACFT INTO TREES. PLT STATED TREELINE WAS LOCATED TOO CLOSE TO EDGE OF AIRSTRIP.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N3491N (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22-135
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 22-1763
- Airframe hours: 2620
- Engines: LYCOMING O-290-D2 135 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Mark R. Deans
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 20, 1983
- Airport: runway 18, 1,400 ×  ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 130 total, 25 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 195° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 99 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

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.