Piper PA-28RT-201T accident near Seminole, Texas, August 7, 1983
On August 7, 1983, a Piper PA-28RT-201T, registered N2122Z, was destroyed in an accident near Seminole, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. 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
- August 7, 1983
- Place
- Seminole, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28RT-201T PA-28RT-20 · all PA-28RT-201Ts on the register
- Registration
- N2122Z · registry record · serial 28R-7931147
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PRIOR TO THE FLT, THE PLT & PASSENGERS WERE OBSERVED DRINKING BEER IN A LOUNGE. THEY TOLD WITNESSES THAT THEY WERE GOING TO THE ARPT TO EAT & WERE LATER SEEN AT A RESTAURANT ON THE ARPT. AFTER THAT, THEY DECIDED TO FLY. THE TAKEOFF TIME & PURPOSE OF THE FLT WAS NOT DETERMINED. AT ABOUT 1920 CDT, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A SUPPORT CABLE OF A LARGE ROTARY IRRIGATION SYS & CRASHED. THE COLLISION OCCURRED AT AN ALT OF APRX 20 FT AGL. NO KNOWN WITNESSES SAW THE ACCIDENT, BUT AN UNIDENTIFIED WITNESS TOLD LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL THAT HE SAW THE ACFT FLYING THRU THE SPRINKLER SPRAY PRIOR TO THE COLLISION. TWO OTHER WITNESSES SAW THE ACFT FLING LOW IN THE VICINITY. WITH THE IRRIGATION SPRINKLERS OPERATING, THE SUPPORT CABLES WERE HARD TO SEE. THE PLT'S BLOOD WAS CHECKED & AN ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.108% WAS FOUND. ALSO, THE PLT HAD A POSITIVE TEST FOR MARIJUANA.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 822 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 20, 1982; 59 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-FB1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HOB Hobbs NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:00 am from HOB, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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.