Piper PA-28R-200 accident near Laporte, Texas, November 10, 2000
On November 10, 2000 at about 7:30 am local time, a Piper PA-28R-200, registered N2068T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Laporte, Texas (Laporte Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Factors were the bright night light condition, and the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 10, 2000 · about 7:30 am local time
- Place
- Laporte, Texas · Laporte Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N2068T · no longer on the register · serial 71-35012
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After a normal preflight and run-up of the single engine airplane with 4 occupants, the pilot commenced take off for the bright night VMC local flight. Initial rotation was uneventful, and a positive rate of climb was established. As the gear retracted, the engine decreased its power output, and the pilot could not maintain level flight. Upon realizing that obstacles at the departure end of the runway were not going to be cleared, the pilot turned to the left as the aircraft continued its descent. Prior to touchdown in a grassy area, the pilot 'pulled power' and lowered the landing gear. Just after touchdown, the right wing struck a guy wire, tearing the wing from the fuselage. The aircraft then struck a fence post adjacent to a building. The airplane was within its certified maximum gross weight at take off. No pre-existing engine anomalies were found after the accident, and usable fuel was present.
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: 218 hours in all; 28 in this make and model; 92 in the last 90 days; 31 in the last 30 days; 175 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,833 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 25, 2000; 39 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Harvey & Rihn Aviation INC.
The flight
- Departed from: T41 at 6:30 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 4,200 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.