Piper PA-23-250 accident near Carizzo Springs, Texas, June 21, 2005
On June 21, 2005 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-23-250, registered N2521M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Carizzo Springs, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the stabilator trim control rod due to internal corrosion. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 21, 2005 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Carizzo Springs, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-250 · all PA-23-250s on the register
- Registration
- N2521M · no longer on the register · serial 27-7954072
- 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 1,403-hour pilot noticed that the trim wheel had rotated almost 360 degrees from its original position, stopped, and rotated 180 degrees in the opposite direction with no pitch attitude changes. The pilot then felt a strong vibration moving forward and aft in the yoke, followed by a clacking sound. The pilot feathered both engines and subsequently made a forced landing following an in-flight loss of the stabilator trim control. Examination of the stabilator trim tab control rod, revealed evidence of internal corrosion at the stabilator trim tab rod. Further examination revealed evidence that the corrosion had reduced the thickness of the load carrying area of the stabilator trim tab control rod.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,403 hours in all; 542 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 1,348 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,952 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 2005; 28 hours since
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming T10-540-CIA (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming T10-540-CIA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Carizzo Springs TX
- Destination: PEQ Pecos TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Wind: from 090° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 99°F (37°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 8:56 pm from LRD
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.