# NTSB FTW85LA173: Piper PA-24-250, N7137P, Justin, TX, April 3, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 3, 1985, 10:45 local (16:45 UTC)
- Place: Justin, TX
- Coordinates: 33.079128, -97.289474 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0791&lon=-97.2895&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): 21715
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW85LA173
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21715/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW85LA173

## Sequence of events

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

- Overrun, landing - roll
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - wind information - misread, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of familiarity with geographic area, pilot in command (cause)
  - planned approach - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)
  - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command (cause)
  - go-around - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - loose gravel/sandy (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s)
  - aborted landing - not performed, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

MISINTERPRETING THE WINDSOCK, THE PILOT LANDED DOWNWIND ON A SHORT GRAVEL STRIP AND COLLIDED WITH A TREE AT THE END.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7137P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7137P-2018-01-23), registration cancelled 2018-01-23, S/N 24-2302, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-250
- 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
- Serial number: 242302
- Airframe hours: 2450
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-A1A5 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Robert Sandel
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 31, 1985, 50 hours before
- Departed: LFK, LUFKIN, TX
- Airport: Clark Fld, runway 36, 1,800 ×  ft, gravel

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 389 total, 12 in this make and model, 265 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F

## 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 19850403010369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850403010369A), Apr 3, 1985: Piper PA24250, Justin, TX, Substantial damage. Landed downwind after misinterpreting windsock. Swung wide attempting to turn onto taxiway and wing struck a tree.

## Other investigations on N7137P (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 UNK64X3252](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X3252), Aug 7, 1964: Piper PA24 (N7137P), Prague, OK, substantial damage

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.