# NTSB FTW95LA220: Piper PA-28-140, N9541W, Stephenville, TX, May 28, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 28, 1995, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Stephenville, TX
- Coordinates: 32.209205, -98.21022 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2092&lon=-98.2102&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 19, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 19437
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA220
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19437/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA220

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO EXECUTE A GO-AROUND. FACTORS WERE THE EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED AND HIGH GLIDEPATH DURING THE APPROACH.

## Sequence of events

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

- Overrun, landing - roll
  - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - proper glidepath - not attained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - go-around - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - intentional, pilot in command
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - fence

## Analysis

FOLLOWING AN APPROACH THE STUDENT PILOT CHARACTERIZED AS 'TOO HIGH AND TOO FAST', THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN AT MIDFIELD. WHEN THE PILOT REALIZED HE WOULD BE UNABLE TO STOP ON THE REMAINING RUNWAY, HE ELECTED TO EXIT THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE 4,183 FOOT LONG RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE CROSSED A TAXIWAY AND THEN IMPACTED A FENCE.

## Factual narrative

On May 28, 1995, at 1230 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28- 140, N9541W, collided with a fence during landing near Stephenville, Texas.  The student pilot was not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage.  The airplane departed Arlington, Texas, at 1147 CDT for the solo cross country instructional flight conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91.  A VFR flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed.

During a telephone interview, the pilot stated that his final approach to runway 14 at Clark Field Municipal Airport was "too high and too fast."  He further stated that, after touching down about midfield, he realized the airplane was moving too fast to stop in the runway remaining and decided to exit the right side of the runway.  The airplane crossed a taxiway and impacted a barbed wire fence severing the outboard third of the right wing.  Runway 14 is 4,183 feet long.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9541W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9541W-2018-04-24), registration cancelled 2018-04-24, S/N 28-22971, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-22971
- Airframe hours: 3458
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A2D 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Larry R. Guzzino
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 16, 1995, 29 hours before
- Departed: F54, ARLINGTON, TX
- Destination: SEP
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: SEP, Clark Field Municipal, runway 14, 4,183 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 85 total, 20 in this make and model, 11 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °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 19950528032509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950528032509A), May 28, 1995: Piper PA28140, Stephenville, TX, Substantial damage. Landed fast at midfield. Swerved off runway to avoid overrun and severed wing on a fence. 4183 ft long runway.

## Other investigations on N9541W (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 GAA17CA103](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA103), Dec 22, 2016: Piper PA28 (N9541W), Shreveport, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate compensation for crosswind conditions during the go-around, which resulted in a loss of airplane control.

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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