Piper PA46 and North American P51 accident near Brookshire, Texas, December 27, 2022
On December 27, 2022 at about 12:15 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Piper PA46 (N282TX) and North American P51 (N3333E), were involved in the same accident near Brookshire, Texas (Houston Exec airport). No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The P51 pilot’s failure to see and avoid the PA46 during taxi operations.
The P51 pilot’s failure to see and avoid the PA46 during taxi operations.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 27, 2022 · about 12:15 pm local time · cases in 2022
- Place
- Brookshire, Texas · Houston Exec · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Piper PA46 600TP, built 2021 · all PA46s on the register
- Registration
- N282TX · registry record · serial 4698178
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- North American P51 D, built 1944 · all P51s on the register
- Registration
- N3333E · registry record · serial 44-63893
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA46 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The PA46 pilot stated that he was stopped on the taxiway behind another airplane when a P51 collided with his airplane from behind. After the collision, the P51 pilot reported to the PA46 pilot that he did not see the PA46. The P51 pilot stated that he was taxiing to the runway and was aware of two other airplanes taxiing ahead of him. He stated that he was “[taxiing] at idle speed, making long S turns, and making sure to clear all aircraft ahead.” The first airplane in line departed and he continued taxiing toward the runup area and was unaware that the second airplane was stopped on the taxiway. The P51 collided with the empennage of the PA46 and the pilot applied the brakes to stop the airplane. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The PA46 sustained substantial damage to the empennage.
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 NTSB's narrative for the North American P51 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The PA46 pilot stated that he was stopped on the taxiway behind another airplane when a P51 collided with his airplane from behind. After the collision, the P51 pilot reported to the PA46 pilot that he did not see the PA46. The P51 pilot stated that he was taxiing to the runway and was aware of two other airplanes taxiing ahead of him. He stated that he was “[taxiing] at idle speed, making long S turns, and making sure to clear all aircraft ahead.” The first airplane in line departed and he continued taxiing toward the runup area and was unaware that the second airplane was stopped on the taxiway. The P51 collided with the empennage of the PA46 and the pilot applied the brakes to stop the airplane. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The PA46 sustained substantial damage to the empennage.
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 for the Piper PA46 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot of other aircraft
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-42A (turboprop); 0 hours total
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.33 inHg
- Observation at 6:15 pm from KTME
Weather report (METAR): KTME 271815Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 10/M02 A3033 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
The factual record for the North American P51 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service › Towing and taxiing › Taxiing › Incorrect use/operation
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 4,950 hours in all; 227 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 4,950 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 4, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,030 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 29, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 8,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Packard/Rolls-Royce V1650 (piston); 277 hours total
The flight
- Destination: KDWH Houston TX
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 4 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – Right side of N282TX in a hangar
Photo 2 – Empennage of N282TX in a hangar
Photo 3 – Nose of N3333E
Photo 4 – N3333E propeller blade tip damageThe 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
3 documents, released by the NTSB on January 13, 2023. 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 (N3333E) | PDF, 12 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (N282TX) | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 4 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
- N282TX on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Piper PA-46 Malibu, Mirage, Matrix and M-Class 1,692 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Piper 44,848 aircraft on the register
- N3333E on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- North American P-51 Mustang 60 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- North American 1,297 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-42A 383 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Packard/Rolls-Royce V1650 87 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Houston Executive · nearest airport
- David Wayne Hooks Memorial · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Texas 6,244 since 1982 · 1,065 in the last ten years
- Texas 29,945 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN23LA072.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.