Piper PA-32-260 accident near Madisonville, Texas, June 14, 2021
On June 14, 2021 at about 4:55 am local time, a 1965 Piper PA-32-260, registered N3258W, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Madisonville, Texas (Madisonville Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 5 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain a proper glidepath during final approach for landing, which resulted in impact with trees and terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 14, 2021 · about 4:55 am local time
- Place
- Madisonville, Texas · Madisonville Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 5 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-260, built 1965 · all PA-32-260s on the register
- Registration
- N3258W · registry record · serial 32-81
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot departed on a night cross-country flight. While on approach to the destination airport, the airplane impacted trees and terrain and came to rest about 550 ft from the runway threshold. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies that would have preclude normal airplane operation. The switches for the airplane’s landing light and rotating beacon were both found in the OFF position. Autopsy revealed that the pilot had 85% stenosis of one of his coronary arteries, which placed him at an increased risk for a sudden cardiac event; however, there was no evidence to suggest that occurred and based on the circumstances of this accident, it is unlikely that the pilot’s cardiovascular condition was a factor in the accident. Toxicological testing identified the antidepressant sertraline and its metabolite desmethysertraline in the pilot’s heart blood and urine. While the levels detected were above therapeutic levels, this medication can undergo postmortem redistribution. Sertraline is one of the four medications the Federal Aviation Administration will consider for treatment of depression. Special issuance is usually issued after 6 months of treatment when the applicant is clinically stable. It is unknown how long the pilot was taking sertraline and whether he was taking it for depression or some other condition. However, after a few weeks of use, sertraline does not impact psychomotor performance. Given the circumstances of this accident, it is unlikely that effects from the pilot’s use of sertraline were factors in the accident.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 664 hours in all; 582 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-E4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PIL Port Isabel TX at 2:21 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,202 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 81°F (27°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from UTS, 21 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
9 documents, released by the NTSB on July 7, 2022. 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 | Google Earth radar Plot | map file | Download |
| 2 | ADS-B Data | data file | Download |
| 3 | Record of Examination | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Pilot Logbook Excerpt | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Record of Conversation - Mechanic | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Medical Factual | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 7 | FAA Toxicological Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | Photo Log | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 9 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | 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.
Other NTSB records under N3258W the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.