Piper PA 32RT-300T accident near Port Mansfield, Texas, October 19, 2017
On October 19, 2017 at about 6:00 pm local time, a 1978 Piper PA 32RT-300T, registered N633CB, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Port Mansfield, Texas (Charles R Johnson Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper landing flare, which led to a hard landing and the subsequent collapse of the nosewheel landing gear due to the overstress failure of the nosewheel landing gear trunnion casting.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 19, 2017 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Port Mansfield, Texas · Charles R Johnson Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 32RT-300T 300T, built 1978 · all PA 32RT-300Ts on the register
- Registration
- N633CB · no longer on the register · serial 32R-7887158
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot stated that, during landing, he pitched the airplane's nose up "slightly" and reduced engine power before the main landing gear wheels touched down on the runway. The nosewheel landing gear then touched down and collapsed. Postaccident examination of the nosewheel landing gear revealed that the trunnion casting was fractured. Metallurgical examination of the trunnion casting revealed fractures consistent with overstress. No evidence of preexisting cracks was observed on any of the fracture surfaces. No other mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation were noted. Therefore, it is likely that the pilot did not properly flare the airplane, which led to a hard landing and the subsequent collapse of the nosewheel landing gear.
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
- Landing gear collapse during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Nose/tail gear strut/axle › Capability exceeded
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 100 hours in all; 57 in this make and model
- Last flight review: January 26, 2017
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 796 hours in all; 234 in this make and model
- Last flight review: September 8, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,050.3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 21, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-S1AD (piston); 1,174 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CXO Houston TX at 3:41 pm
- Destination: T05 Port Mansfield TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 12, 3,200 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,000 ft; scat at 2,900 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 5:30 pm from HRL, 23 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on July 18, 2019. 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Examination | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | NTSB Materials Laboratory Report | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Photo Log | PDF, 2 pages | 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.