Piper PA-28 accident near Terrell, Texas, February 7, 2009
On February 7, 2009 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28, registered N5303W, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Terrell, Texas (Airpark East Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The commercial pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the approach which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of recent flight experience.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 7, 2009 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Terrell, Texas · Airpark East Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28 · all PA-28s on the register
- Registration
- N5303W · no longer on the register · serial 28-354
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial pilot was on final approach to landing on a 2,630 foot long by 30 foot wide asphalt runway with direct crosswinds at 15 knots, gusting to 21 knots. The airplane suddenly stalled and airplane crashed short of the threshold and bounced onto the runway causing substantial damage to both wings, the fuselage, and all three landing gear. The pilot reported that he had a total of eight hours in the same type or airplane, had flown a total on one hour in the past 90 days, and he had not completed flight review within the previous 24 calendar months. The two persons onboard reported they were not injured.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Other weather encounter during landing
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during landing
- Landing area undershoot during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- factor Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Recent experience › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 371 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: August 5, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 525 hours in all; 100 in this make and model
- Last flight review: November 6, 2008
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,307 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 6, 2009; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 series (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1F7 Terrell TX at 5:55 pm
- Destination: 1F7 Terrell TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 2,630 ft by 30 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 15 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,900 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from KTRL, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.