Piper PA-28RT-201T accident near Morgan, Texas, May 29, 2022
On May 29, 2022 at about 8:27 pm local time, a 1978 Piper PA-28RT-201T, registered N2148J, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Morgan, Texas (W4 Ranch Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A partial loss of engine power due to a corrosion-related fatigue crack of the No. 3 cylinder barrel.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 29, 2022 · about 8:27 pm local time
- Place
- Morgan, Texas · W4 Ranch Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28RT-201T, built 1978 · all PA-28RT-201Ts on the register
- Registration
- N2148J · no longer on the register · serial 28R-7931012
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While in cruise flight, the pilot observed the manifold pressure drop, followed by a loud rattling engine noise with strong vibrations. The pilot shut down the engine and diverted toward a nearby airport. The pilot reported that he thought the airplane was too high on the downwind leg; however, after he turned the airplane onto the final leg, he realized that the headwind would prevent him from making it to the runway. The pilot performed a forced landing into rough terrain short of the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. Postaccident examination of the No. 3 cylinder revealed the cylinder barrel was fractured between the cooling fins and the threaded section used for mounting the cylinder head. A metallurgical examination revealed a fatigue crack that originated at a corrosion pit on the outer diameter surface of the cylinder barrel. The inboard-facing side of the first cylinder cooling fin was tinted black for a 180° arc, with the center of the arc in line with the fatigue crack. Manufacturer guidance includes inspection of cylinder fins for any signs of oil or soot leakage that might indicate a cylinder or head-to-barrel junction structural integrity breach. The engine was operated about 30 hours since the last annual inspection.
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
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during enroute defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip engine power section › Inadequate inspection
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Failure
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Rough terrain › Contributed to outcome
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng cyl section › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 331 hours in all; 252 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: February 8, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,804 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 19, 2021; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO 360FB (piston); 3,804 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PPA Pampa TX at 6:15 pm
- Destination: AXH Houston TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 4,500 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 18 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.67 inHg
- Observation at 3:35 pm from KINJ, 23 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KINJ 292035Z AUTO 16018G24KT 10SM CLR 34/20 A2967 RMK AO2 T03400200
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on January 30, 2024. 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 | Photos of Airplane at Accident Site | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Materials Laboratory Factual Report 23-018 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Excerpt of Maintenance Logs | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Correspondence with Mechanic | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Manufacturer Cylinder Inspection Guidance | PDF, 17 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 N2148J 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.