Piper PA-38-112 accident near Sugar Land, Texas, March 2, 2004
On March 2, 2004 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2588A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sugar Land, Texas (Houston Southwest Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper weather evaluation, and his encounter with adverse weather conditions. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the precautionary landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 2, 2004 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Sugar Land, Texas · Houston Southwest Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N2588A · no longer on the register · serial 38-78A0768
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While en route to his destination, the 170-hour non-instrument rated private pilot encountered adverse weather conditions and elected to perform a precautionary landing in an open field. During the landing roll, the airplane collided with a barbed-wire fence, nosed over, and came to rest in the inverted position. The pilot had not obtained a weather briefing; however, he had obtained some weather information on the internet from DUATS.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 170 hours in all; 65 in this make and model; 51 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 65 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 218 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 102 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 5, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,378.4 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 5, 2003; 98 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VCT Victoria TX at 10:00 pm
- Destination: LVJ Pearland TX
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 11 knots
- Sky: overcast at 1,100 ft; clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from SGR, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.