Piper PA-28-180 accident near Rockwall, Texas, December 9, 2021
On December 9, 2021 at about 7:28 pm local time, a 1962 Piper PA-28-180, registered N7157W, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Rockwall, Texas (Ralph M Hall/Rockwall Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to go-around during the unstable visual approach, which resulted in a bounced touchdown near the end of the runway and the subsequent runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 12, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 9, 2021 · about 7:28 pm local time · cases in 2021
- Place
- Rockwall, Texas · Ralph M Hall/Rockwall Muni · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180, built 1962 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N7157W · no longer on the register · serial 28-965
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was flying a visual approach with a steep glidepath to avoid power lines on final approach and a higher-than-normal approach speed due to high winds. The airplane touched down toward the departure end of the runway and bounced once. The pilot did not perform a go-around and continued the landing attempt. The airplane touched down again, departed the runway, and impacted a barbed wire fence. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation and that he should have diverted to another airport and rented a vehicle to drive to the destination.
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
- Runway excursion during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Landing distance › Capability exceeded
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Fence/fence post › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 250 hours in all; 15 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,328 hours
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Mmm Friemel INC
The flight
- Departed from: 11TX Sherman TX at 6:54 pm
- Destination: F46 Rockwall TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17/3, 3,373 ft by 45 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 11 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observation at 2:35 pm from KF46, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KF46 092035Z AUTO 23011G15KT 10SM CLR 25/15 A2979 RMK AO2 T02530150
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on March 21, 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 | Record of Correspondence with Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Photos of Accident Airplane | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N7157W: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Piper PA-28 Cherokee, Warrior, Archer and Arrow 18,635 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Piper 44,844 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 1,067 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Ralph M Hall/Rockwall Municipal · nearest airport
- Butler Airport · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Texas 6,235 since 1982 · 1,056 in the last ten years
- Texas 29,943 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN22LA075.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.