Piper PA-34-200T accident near Eagle Pass, Texas, July 26, 1982
On July 26, 1982 at about 6:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-34-200T, registered N304CW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Eagle Pass, Texas (Giebel Ranch airport). It was an executive or corporate 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 26, 1982 · about 6:50 pm local time
- Place
- Eagle Pass, Texas · Giebel Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-34-200T · all PA-34-200Ts on the register
- Registration
- N304CW · no longer on the register · serial 34-7870153
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE OVERFLEW THE RANCH STRIP AND LOOKED IT OVER BEFORE LANDING. HE STATED THAT HE TOUCHED DOWN ON THE FIRST 200 FT OF THE 2200 FT, ASPHALT RUNWAY, BUT EACH TIME THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE WHEELS WOULD LOCK AND SKID DUE TO LOOSE GRAVEL ON THE PAVEMENT. HE FURTHER STATED THAT WHEN HE KNEW HE WOULD BE UNABLE TO STOP ON THE RUNWAY, HE SHUT DOWN BOTH ENGINES AND TURNED THE AIRCRAFT TO THE RIGHT. HE DID THIS TO RUN THE AIRCRAFT ONTO A DYKE RATHER THAN HIT RAILROAD TIES AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE NOSE AND RIGHT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS ABOUT 3200 FT.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,825 hours in all; 297 in this make and model; 79 in the last 90 days; 3,700 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,459 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,570 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-E (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Williams Aviation CO.
The flight
- Departed from: Midland TX at 12:00 pm
- Destination: Y78 Franklin WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 2,200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 135° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 203°F (95°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.