Piper PA-28-235 accident near Sweetwater, Texas, November 21, 2003
On November 21, 2003 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-235, registered N56318, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sweetwater, Texas (Avenger Field). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind 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 loss of engine power due to a failure of the crankshaft bolt. A contributing factor was 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 21, 2003 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Sweetwater, Texas · Avenger Field · 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
- N56318 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7310174
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During cruise flight, the engine lost power and the airplane impacted the terrain short of the alternate airport. The 123-hour private pilot stated the engine "suddenly stopped producing power." He attempted to restart the engine; however, he was not successful. During the forced landing, "strong surface winds came up," and the airplane impacted the terrain approximately 450 feet short of the runway. The airplane then struck trees, a fence, two poles and came to rest on the runway surface. Examination of the engine revealed the crankshaft bolt and crankshaft dowel pin had fractured and failed. The bolt fracture surfaces displayed signatures consistent with fatigue. At the time of the accident, the engine had accumulated approximately 576 hours since major overhaul.
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: 40 hours in all
- Last flight review: July 23, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,338 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 20, 2003; 82 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: HOB Hobbs NM at 1:10 pm
- Destination: ABI Abilene TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 1:52 pm from ABI, 40 miles away
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.