Piper PA-30 accident near Houston, Texas, May 12, 2008
On May 12, 2008 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-30, registered N8511Y, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Houston, Texas (Ellington Field). It was an instructional 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 loss of directional control during the landing. A contributing factor was the flight instructor's delayed remedial action.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 12, 2008 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Houston, Texas · Ellington Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-30 · all PA-30s on the register
- Registration
- N8511Y · no longer on the register · serial 30-1670
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, as he landing the multi-engine airplane, the airplane suddenly turned to the left, towards the edge of the runway. The pilot added that he and the flight instructor tried to correct the problem by adding rudder. Subsequently, the airplane's wing lifted and the airplane began to "wheelbarrow" on the nose landing gear. The pilot added that as he and the instructor tried to regain control, the airplane's left and right landing gear collapsed. The airplane came to rest on its belly, in the grass on the east side of the runway.
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
- Loss of control on ground during landing defining event
- Landing gear collapse during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,070 hours in all; 140 in this make and model; 83 in the last 90 days; 36 in the last 30 days; 1,916 as pilot in command; 948 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: private, student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 144 hours in all; 73 in this make and model
- Last flight review: March 1, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,505 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 2007
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SGR Houston TX
- Destination: EFD Houston TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17R, 9,001 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from KEFD
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.