Piper PA-28R-200 accident near San Antonio, Texas, March 5, 2008
On March 5, 2008 at about 4:20 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-200, registered N41517, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near San Antonio, Texas (Stinson Municipal 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 failure to maintain airspeed during the landing flare which resulted in a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 5, 2008 · about 4:20 pm local time
- Place
- San Antonio, Texas · Stinson Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N41517 · no longer on the register · serial 28R-7435194
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot was asked to perform a power-off 180 degree accuracy landing as part of the practical test for a commercial pilot certification. The first attempt was terminated with a go-around. The second approach appeared normal according to the designated pilot examiner onboard, until approximately five seconds before touchdown. At that point the airplane rate of descent increased to approximately 1000 feet per minute and the airspeed slowed below 75 miles per hour and the airplane "dropped onto the runway." Neither the pilot nor examiner noticed any apparent damage at that time and elected to continue the flight. Upon completion of the flight the airplane was examined by maintenance for a hard landing and substantial damage was confirmed to both wings at the landing gear assembly mounts.
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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 217 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 116 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 164 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,019.6 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 1, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Wright Flyers Aviation INC
The flight
- Departed from: KSAT San Antonio TX at 3:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 4,128 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from KSSF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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.