Piper PA-38-112 accident near Dalhart, Texas, June 1, 2024
On June 1, 2024 at about 6:55 pm local time, a 1978 Piper PA-38-112, registered N9715T, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Dalhart, Texas (Dalhart Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper decision to take off with the airplane over its maximum allowable gross weight at a high density altitude, which degraded its climb performance and led an off airport landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 1, 2024 · about 6:55 pm local time
- Place
- Dalhart, Texas · Dalhart Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112, built 1978 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N9715T · no longer on the register · serial 38-78A0168
- 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 during the initial climb the airplane reached 300 ft agl and then began to sink. He made a shallow turn, committed to landing in a field, and then began shutting down the engine, fuel, and electrical systems. During landing in the rough field the landing gear collapsed and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, fuselage, and engine mount. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Based on information provided by the pilot, the airplane was roughly 100 lbs over the maximum allowable gross weight. The meteorological data for the date and time of the accident was used to calculate an estimated density altitude of 6,473 ft. Surface conditions showed a 20 knot direct headwind gusting to 30 knots for the runway being used and an outside air temperature of 29° Celsius. The performance chart for the airplane at maximum gross weight for these conditions showed a climb performance of about 400 feet per minute (fpm). It is likely that the airplane, which was overweight and operating at a high-density altitude, had a lower climb performance.
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
- Off-field or emergency landing during initial climb
- Miscellaneous/other during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Knowledge › Knowledge of meteorologic cond › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Climb rate › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Knowledge › Knowledge of equipment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › High density altitude › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 187.6 hours in all; 84.1 in this make and model; 55.5 in the last 90 days; 36.7 in the last 30 days; 135.6 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,619.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 23, 2023; 86.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 3,619 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DHT Dalhart TX at 6:53 am
- Destination: ABQ Albuquerque NM
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 21, 5,440 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 20 knots, gusting 34
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from KDHT, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KDHT 011853Z AUTO 21020G34KT 10SM CLR 29/09 A3004 RMK AO2 PK WND 20034/1845 SLP116 T02940094
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on September 27, 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Performance Data | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 5 pages | 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.