Piper PA 30 accident near Clifton, Texas, July 13, 2015
On July 13, 2015 at about 8:20 pm local time, a 1965 Piper PA 30, registered N7768Y, was destroyed in an accident during approach (VFR pattern downwind) near Clifton, Texas (Clifton Muni/Isenhower Field). 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 failure to maintain control during a precautionary landing following a total loss of power to one engine. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined based on available information.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 13, 2015 · about 8:20 pm local time
- Place
- Clifton, Texas · Clifton Muni/Isenhower Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 30 NO SERIES, built 1965 · all PA 30s on the register
- Registration
- N7768Y · no longer on the register · serial 30-854
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the accident flight was the first flight following an annual inspection. During initial climb after takeoff, he noticed that the fuel flow to the right engine was higher than normal, and that the exhaust gas temperature was lower than normal. He noted that moving the propeller control had no effect on propeller rpm, and he elected to return to the airport. On the downwind leg of the traffic pattern for landing, the right engine experienced a total loss of power, and the pilot was unable to restart the engine or feather the propeller. The pilot also stated that the propeller was not windmilling following the loss of power. During the subsequent final landing approach, when the airplane was about 20 feet above the ground, the right wing "suddenly and violently rolled to the right," and the airplane impacted the ground. Postaccident examination of the airplane's engines, ignition systems, fuel system, and fuel controls did not reveal any anomalies, and a reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined. Although a first responder to the accident observed the right engine fuel selector in the auxiliary tank position, no information was available regarding fuel quantities present in the fuel tanks at the time of the accident. Examination of the right propeller revealed that the propeller dome had no air charge, which is likely the reason for the lack of response to the pilot's propeller control inputs; however, this should not have prevented the propeller from entering the feather position after the engine lost power. It is likely that the propeller did not feather because the start locks engaged following the loss of power and the pilot's subsequent attempts to restart the engine.
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 (total) during approach (VFR pattern downwind) defining event
- Loss of control in flight during landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
- Fire/smoke (post-impact) during post (impact)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,410 hours in all; 3,796 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 0 in the last 30 days; 4,246 as pilot in command; 118 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,867 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 7, 2015; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,381 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming IO-320-B1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming IO-320-B1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 7F7 Clifton TX at 8:20 pm
- Destination: SAT San Antonio TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 3,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 7:51 pm from ACT, 21 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.