Piper PA32R accident near Alpine, Texas, May 18, 2010
On May 18, 2010 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Piper PA32R, registered N6911Z, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Alpine, Texas (Alpine-Casparis Municipal 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
improper installation of the flexible hose and two clamps that connect the intercooler to the turbocharger.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 18, 2010 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Alpine, Texas · Alpine-Casparis Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA32R 301T · all PA32Rs on the register
- Registration
- N6911Z · no longer on the register · serial 32R-8529015
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he performed an engine run-up prior to departure and everything was normal. He then advanced the throttle, prop control, and mixture from left to right and monitored the ehxhaust gas temperature (EGT) to make sure the temperature stayed in the high 1300-degree to low 1400-degree range during the takeoff roll. However, on this takeoff roll he noted that the EGT was reading 1450 degrees so he increased mixture to lower the temperature. Everything seemed to normalize until he became airborne and the engine spooled back. The pilot noted that the EGT was still high at 1440 degrees, so he attempted to land on the remaining stretch of runway. There was not enough room and the airplane exited the runway and collided with a deer fence. Examination of the engine revealed that the flexible hose and two clamps that connect the intercooler to the turbocharger inlet were not installed properly, which caused the flexible hose to slide out of position. The engine had been overhauled in 2007 and installed back on the airplane using the same propeller and accessories. There were no entries between the time the engine was installed to the date of the accident that indicated that either the turbocharger or the intercooler had been worked on. The last annual inspection was performed exactly one year prior to the accident.
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
- Loss of engine power (partial) during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,506 hours in all; 263 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 36 in the last 30 days; 2,431 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 20, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,083 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 19, 2009; 175 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO540-S1AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: E38 Alpine TX at 2:25 pm
- Destination: FST Fort Stockton TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 6,003 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 2:25 pm from E38
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.