Piper PA-28-235 accident near Terrell, Texas, August 11, 2001
On August 11, 2001 at about 1:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-235, registered N235RM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Terrell, Texas (Dallas Airpark East 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 flying pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during the landing flare which resulted in a hard landing. A contributing factor was the wind shear weather condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 11, 2001 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Terrell, Texas · Dallas Airpark East · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-235 · all PA-28-235s on the register
- Registration
- N235RM · registry record · serial 28-11173
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot/owner, the purpose of the flight was for the two private pilots to practice short field and crosswind landings. The flight departed the originating airport after both pilots practiced touch-and-go takeoffs and landings, and proceeded to another airport. Upon arrival the pilot/owner executed one touch-and-go, then the other pilot took control of the airplane to practice another touch-and-go. The pilot/owner reported that the other pilot was in the process of landing, when at the point of the landing flare, a "wind shear was encountered, which caused an immediate loss of lift and a hard touchdown." In a written statement and event diagram, the pilot/owner depicted the airplane landing adjacent to a tree line, which was upwind from the airplane's touchdown point. The pilot/owner reported the wind from the south at 8-10 knots. The closest weather observation facility reported the wind from 200 degrees at 8 knots.
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: 230 hours in all; 189 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 173 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 27, 1999
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,850 hours in all; 19 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: October 14, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,862 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 27, 2001; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HQZ Mesquite TX at 1:00 pm
- Destination: 1F7 Terrell TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 2,630 ft by 30 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from DAL, 27 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Other NTSB records under N235RM the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.