Piper PA-28R-200 accident near Mesquite, Texas, June 8, 2000
On June 8, 2000 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-200, registered N4861T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mesquite, Texas (Mesquite Metro 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 compensation for the existing crosswind condition. A factor was the crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 8, 2000 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Mesquite, Texas · Mesquite Metro · 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
- N4861T · no longer on the register · serial 7235127
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he was landing to the south, and 'after touchdown on the rollout, after all three wheels were on the ground, the plane leaned to the right and turned to the right.' In an attempt to correct for the right turn, the pilot applied full left rudder. The airplane spun 180 degrees to the left and came to rest in the grass next to the runway with the landing gear collapsed. The weather observation facility at the airport reported the wind from 130 degrees at 13 knots. The pilot reported the wind at the time of the accident from 130 degrees at 7 knots. Examination of the aircraft's landing gear revealed that all of the landing gear damage was consistent with application of (sideways) force in excess of design limits. No indication of pre-impact failure or malfunction was noted.
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
- Flight time: 237 hours in all; 156 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 125 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,248 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 15, 2000; 52 hours since
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HQZ at 9:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 6,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.