Piper PA-31P accident near Nacogdoches, Texas, February 21, 1983
On February 21, 1983 at about 3:00 am local time, a Piper PA-31P, registered N7334L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Nacogdoches, Texas (East Texas Reg. airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- February 21, 1983 · about 3:00 am local time
- Place
- Nacogdoches, Texas · East Texas Reg.
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31P · all PA-31Ps on the register
- Registration
- N7334L · no longer on the register · serial 31P-7400217
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING ARRIVAL, A LANDING WAS MADE AT NIGHT IMC CONDITIONS WITH LOW CEILINGS, HEAVY RAIN & GUSTY WINDS. THE PLT REPORTED THAT DURING THE LANDING, THERE WAS A X-WIND COMPONENT, LIGHT TURBULENCE & A WIND SHIFT. REPORTEDLY THE ACFT WAS LANDED APRX HALF WAY DOWN THE RWY, THEN HYDROPLANING CONDITIONS WERE ENCOUNTERED. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO STOP ON THE REMAINING RWY & THE ACFT WENT IN A DEEP DITCH AFTER RUNNING OFF THE END.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,300 hours in all; 70 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 75 in the last 30 days; 3,300 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,769 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, August 1, 1982
- Maximum gross weight: 7,800 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIGO-541-E1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CLL College Station TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 15, 3,600 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 54°F (12°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.