Piper J4 accident near Cleburne, Texas, August 22, 2023
On August 22, 2023 at about 11:10 pm local time, a 1939 Piper J4, registered N6581H, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Cleburne, Texas (Cleburne Regional 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing in gusty crosswind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 22, 2023 · about 11:10 pm local time
- Place
- Cleburne, Texas · Cleburne Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J4 A, built 1939 · all J4s on the register
- Registration
- N6581H · registry record · serial 4-831
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While landing to runway 15 in gusty wind conditions, the pilot lost control of the tailwheel equipped airplane, it nosed over, and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and lift strut. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures which would have precluded normal operation. The wind at the time of the accident was 100° at 13 knots with gusts to 20 knots. The calculated crosswind component was between 10 and 15 knots.
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 landing (landing roll) defining event
- Other weather encounter during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 240 hours in all; 43 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A50-1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 5,697 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 13 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 99°F (37°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 6:15 pm from KCPT
Weather report (METAR): METAR KCPT 222315Z AUTO 10013G20KT 10SM CLR 37/16 A2998 RMK A01=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN23LA378.