Piper PA-23-250 accident near Bullard, Texas, September 12, 2012
On September 12, 2012 at about 7:55 pm local time, a Piper PA-23-250, registered N4842P, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Bullard, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's maneuver, which exceeded the airplane's structural limit and resulted in an in-flight breakup.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 12, 2012 · about 7:55 pm local time
- Place
- Bullard, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-250 · all PA-23-250s on the register
- Registration
- N4842P · no longer on the register · serial 27-413
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was en route to its destination when it was observed to make several turns before it pitched nose up, climbed, rolled to the right, and then headed toward the ground nose first. Several witnesses observed airplane components floating down after the airplane. All witnesses reported hearing loud engine noises throughout the event. Impact signatures were consistent with a nose down attitude with a near vertical descent angle. Distribution of the airplane wreckage supported the observation by eyewitnesses of an inflight breakup. An examination found that both wings failed in overload with positive wing loading. In addition, there was no evidence of flight control over travel or flutter. It could not be determined whether the pilot intended to perform the abnormal maneuver or if it was the result of a physiological issue.
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
- Unknown or undetermined during maneuvering
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering defining event
- Aircraft structural failure during maneuvering
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › (general) › (general) › Not specified
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Wing structure › (general) › Capability exceeded
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › (general) › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 938 hours in all; 24 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 792 as pilot in command; 112 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 27, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,085 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 31, 2012; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming O-540 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming O-540 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KDWH Houston TX at 6:55 pm
- Destination: KTYR Tyler TX
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from KTYR, 15 miles away
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.