Piper PA32 accident near Hereford, Texas, September 9, 2018
On September 9, 2018 at about 4:17 pm local time, a 1966 Piper PA32, registered N4078W, was destroyed in an accident during takeoff near Hereford, Texas (Hereford Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 9, 2018 · about 4:17 pm local time
- Place
- Hereford, Texas · Hereford Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA32 300, built 1966 · all PA32s on the register
- Registration
- N4078W · no longer on the register · serial 32-40121
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot lost control of the airplane during takeoff; it subsequently impacted the ground near the departure end of the runway and was destroyed. The pilot reported that she had no memory of her preflight activity or takeoff. A witness observed the airplane in a nose-high, tail-low attitude during the takeoff but lost sight of the airplane behind hangars. He noted that the engine sounded like it was at full power. Postaccident examination of the airplane did not reveal any evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Data recovered from an onboard engine monitor did not reveal any indication of a loss of engine power during takeoff. The airplane was loaded within the gross weight and center-of-gravity limits. Performance data indicated that the available runway length was sufficient for takeoff. It is likely that the pilot overrotated during takeoff and the airplane entered an aerodynamic stall, which resulted in the airplane departing controlled flight and impacting the ground.
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 takeoff defining event
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 272 hours in all; 44 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 213 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 12, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,953 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 11, 2018; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1A5 (piston); 4,613 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HRX Hereford TX at 4:16 pm
- Destination: E41 Big Lake TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 6,100 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,000 ft; scat at 2,100 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 4:15 pm from HRX, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
14 documents, released by the NTSB on March 19, 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 Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Conversation Summary - FAA Inspector | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Conversation Summary - Insurance Representative | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Maintenance Records - Airframe (Excerpt) | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Maintenance Records - Engine (Excerpt) | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Maintenance Records - Propeller (Excerpt) | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Pilot's Logbook | PDF, 34 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Weight and Balance Calculation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 9 | Density Altitude Calculation | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 10 | Weather Observation - Hereford Municipal | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 11 | Airplane Owner's Manual (Excerpt) | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 12 | Airplane Flight Manual (Excerpt) | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 13 | Plot of Engine Data | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 14 | Engine Monitor Data File | data file | 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.