Piper PA-28R-180 accident near Beach City, Texas, May 19, 2022
On May 19, 2022 at about 4:20 pm local time, a 1968 Piper PA-28R-180, registered N7451J, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Beach City, Texas (Rwj Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control in a gusting quartering tailwind that resulted in a loss of control and impact with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 19, 2022 · about 4:20 pm local time
- Place
- Beach City, Texas · Rwj Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-180, built 1968 · all PA-28R-180s on the register
- Registration
- N7451J · registry record · serial 28R-30800
- 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 attempted a takeoff with an estimated 10-12 knot left quartering tailwind. During the takeoff ground roll, the airplane veered left, departed the side of the runway, and collided with trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left and right wings. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A review of aviation weather data found the potential for the wind to gust over 20 knots at the time of 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
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,940 hours in all; 1,704 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 1,870 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-B1E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 00R Livingston TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 5,035 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 15 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,600 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observation at 11:54 am from KEFD, 19 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KEFD 191654Z 15015G23KT 10SM SCT036 SCT042 31/21 A2986=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on August 24, 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Case Findings | PDF, 1 page | 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.