Piper PA-24-250 accident near Uvalde, Texas, June 28, 2001
On June 28, 2001 at about 11:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N6474P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Uvalde, Texas (Garner Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to verify the landing gear was down and locked, which resulted in a wheels up landing and subsequent ground fire.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 28, 2001 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Uvalde, Texas · Garner Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N6474P · no longer on the register · serial 24-1589
- 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 on descent he was high and fast. He entered downwind at 3000 feet, and before he turned base leg, he realized he was still too high so he lowered the flaps. He stated that during the final approach, he used full flaps with a speed of 80 mph. About one-half mile from the runway, he positioned the landing gear switch in the down position, but did not immediately check the gear down lights to verify if the gear was down. The pilot stated "he didn't check the gear down light until over the runway, then no light. Too late to go-around." The airplane touched down and slid approximately 170 yards before coming to a stop on the runway. When the pilot opened the door and exited the airplane, he noted black smoke coming from beneath the airplane. The ensing fire consumed the rear portion of the fuselage. When asked how the accident could have been prevented, the pilot replied "do not break from procedures of your normal landings."
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: 684 hours in all; 157 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 684 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 31, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,266 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1C5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: CZT Carrizo Springs TX at 11:30 pm
- Destination: UVA Uvalde
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 2,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 10:51 pm from HDO, 31 miles away
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.