Piper PA32-301XTC accident near San Marcos, Texas, October 31, 2006
On October 31, 2006 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Piper PA32-301XTC, registered N506C, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Marcos, Texas (San Marcos 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 recovery from a bounced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 31, 2006 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- San Marcos, Texas · San Marcos Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA32-301XTC · all PA32-301XTCs on the register
- Registration
- N506C · registry record · serial 3255015
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While landing on Runway 26, a 6,330-foot long, by 100-foot wide asphalt runway, the single-engine airplane bounced and started to porpoise. Each successive bounce got higher in altitude until ultimately the airplane's nose landing gear collapsed and the propeller impacted the ground. The airplane came to rest in the upright position and the 735-hour private pilot and his passenger were able to exit the airplane unassisted. There was no fire. During the post-accident investigation, the rudder pedals were functionally checked and continuity was established from the rudder pedals to the steering rods and rudder. No pre- impact anomalies were noted with the airplane's flight controls, nose landing gear, or steering mechanism. The wind at the time of the accident was reportedly from 250 degrees at 6 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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 735 hours in all; 258 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: June 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 363 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2006
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-AH1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LBB Lubbock TX at 6:00 pm
- Destination: HYI San Marcos TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 26, 6,330 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.