Piper PA22 accident near Terrell, Texas, August 1, 2009
On August 1, 2009 at about 3:40 pm local time, a Piper PA22, registered N8602C, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Terrell, Texas (Terrell Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper decision to continue the approach and landing during thunderstorm activity, resulting in the loss of aircraft control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 1, 2009 · about 3:40 pm local time
- Place
- Terrell, Texas · Terrell Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA22 135 · all PA22s on the register
- Registration
- N8602C · registry record · serial 221282
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, during his approach to land he observed thunderstorms in the vicinity of the airport and observed moisture on the windscreen of the airplane. He elected to continue the approach and encountered strong turbulence during the base and final legs of the approach. During the turbulent encounter on short final, the airplane was turned 30 degrees to the right of runway heading and the nose was forced upward. The pilot regained control of the airplane and landed firmly on the runway surface. The airplane departed the left side of the runway, the left wing "dug" into the grass surface, cartwheeled, and came to rest inverted. The outboard four feet of the left wing and the firewall of the airplane were bent. According to the pilot and a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane. Witnesses observing the flight indicated that the wind shifted from a right quartering head wind to a right quartering tail wind and increased in velocity while the airplane was on short final.
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
- Windshear or thunderstorm during landing
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Convective weather › Thunderstorm › Effect on operation
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Convective weather › Thunderstorm › Decision related to condition
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 572 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 572 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 30, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,986 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 30, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O290-02 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: E70 Seguin TX at 2:30 pm
- Destination: TRL Terrell TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 5,006 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 7 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from KTRL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
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.