Piper PA-28-180 accident near Cut And Shoot, Texas, August 21, 2024
On August 21, 2024 at about 9:30 pm local time, a 1970 Piper PA-28-180, registered N3591R, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Cut And Shoot, Texas (Chennault Airfield). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person 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 during a go-around that resulted in an impact with a fence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 21, 2024 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Cut And Shoot, Texas · Chennault Airfield · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180, built 1970 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N3591R · registry record · serial 28-5704
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to complete a second solo cross country. The student pilot flew to the planned destination airport where she performed a touch and go landing and then returned to the originating airport. During the final approach for landing, she lined up with the runway centerline; however, as the airplane got closer to the ground, she realized she had drifted too far left of the centerline. The student pilot attempted a go around but was not able to gain enough altitude to clear a nearby fence. The airplane’s left wing struck the fence, and the airplane came down on the fence to a stop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Course deviation during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Collision during takeoff/land during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 45 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 38 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 4 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,713.3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 13, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 6,935 hours total
- Operator: Chennault Aviation Academy
The flight
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 17, 3,100 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 99°F (37°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from CXO, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The 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
2 documents, released by the NTSB on November 19, 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 3 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.
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.