- Date
- September 8, 1996, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place
- Palestine, TX
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N7467DPiper PA-18
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 18, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960908026349A
- Case key
- 19973
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for takeoff.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
During takeoff from the 1,000 foot, down-hill sloped grass field, the airplane became airborne, but impacted a barbed wire fence at the end of the field. The passenger in the airplane reported that the grass in the field was approximately 2 to 3 feet high. The airplane came to rest in a ditch along the side of the road that the barbed wire fence bordered. Numerous attempts to obtain a completed pilot/operator report of the accident were unsuccessful.
Factual narrative
On September 8, 1996, at 1700 central daylight time, a Piper PA-18, N7467D, registered to and operated by a private owner, sustained substantial damage during takeoff near Palestine, Texas. The private pilot was seriously injured, and his passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight operated under Title 14 CFR Part 91. A flight plan was not filed for the local flight that was originating at the time of the accident.
During a takeoff to the east from a 1,000 foot, down-hill sloped grass field, the airplane became airborne, but impacted a barbed wire fence at the end of the field. The passenger in the airplane reported that the grass in the field was approximately 2 to 3 feet high. The airplane came to rest in a ditch along the side of the road that the barbed wire fence bordered. Both wings, the empennage, and the fuselage sustained substantial damage.
Numerous attempts to obtain a completed Pilot/Operator report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) were unsuccessful.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7467D
- Reported as
- Piper PA-18
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18-5796
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Royce D. Bernard
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Special, Restricted (Special)
- Departed
- NONE
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 52
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Expired
- Seat
- Front
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 60° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Observed at
- TYR, 30 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N7467D · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.