Piper PA-18 accident near New Ulm, Texas, February 26, 2000
On February 26, 2000 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-18, registered N8967C, was substantially damaged in an accident near New Ulm, Texas. It was a personal 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 clearance with a fence during the aborted landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 26, 2000 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- New Ulm, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18 · all PA-18s on the register
- Registration
- N8967C · no longer on the register · serial 18-2933
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Upon arrival at the destination, the pilot flew the airplane over the grass airstrip, and noted that the wind was 90 degrees to the runway at a speed of 10 to 12 knots. The pilot reported that when the airplane descended below the tree height, the airplane 'floated more than expected and when I touched down, the surface of the strip had gopher mounds making aircraft braking ineffective so I added power to abort the landing. The aircraft seemed to be in a downdraft and was hesitant to fly, but I was committed at this point and continued.' The airplane struck a barbed wire fence at the end of the runway and the propeller became entangled with the fence. The aircraft continued to climb to the height of the treetops and 'lost power'. Subsequently, the main landing gear struck the trees causing the airplane to nose over and come to rest in a brush pile.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,000 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 12R Brookshire TX at 10:00 pm
- Destination: NONE TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.