Piper PA 28R-201T accident near Addison, Texas, November 30, 2014
On November 30, 2014 at about 11:40 pm local time, a 1977 Piper PA 28R-201T, registered N533MC, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Addison, Texas (Addison airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing with a gusting crosswind, which resulted in a hard landing adjacent to the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 30, 2014 · about 11:40 pm local time
- Place
- Addison, Texas · Addison · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 28R-201T 201T, built 1977 · all PA 28R-201Ts on the register
- Registration
- N533MC · registry record · serial 28R-7703183
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot reported that, just before touchdown while conducting a personal flight, the airplane encountered a wind gust that pushed it sideways toward the grass adjacent to the runway. The airplane subsequently landed hard, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The weather conditions reported at the airport included wind from 50 degrees left of the runway heading at 9 knots gusting to 19 knots. The pilot reported no abnormalities with the flight control system. Based on the available information, it is likely that the pilot failed to maintain airplane control while landing with a gusting crosswind. The pilot reported that, during the cruise portion of the flight, smoke entered the cockpit from behind the instrument panel. He said that opening the vent window cleared the smoke in the cockpit and that his vision was not obstructed during the landing. Examination of the instrument panel revealed that three of the four screws that secure the right rear rocker panel cover were missing and that oil was leaking onto the engine's exhaust.
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 control in flight during landing defining event
- Runway excursion during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Indicating/recording systems › Instrument panel › Not specified
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Oil › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 130 hours in all; 9 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,912 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor TSIO-360 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OMA Omaha NE at 11:00 pm
- Destination: ADS Addison TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 7,203 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 9 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 13 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 10:48 pm from ADS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on March 7, 2016. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Record of Conversation with Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation with Fsdo Inspector | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.