Piper PA-32RT-300T accident near Port Mansfield, Texas, June 29, 1983
On June 29, 1983 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-32RT-300T, registered N39589, was substantially damaged in an accident near Port Mansfield, Texas (Charles R. Johnson airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 6 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
- June 29, 1983 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Port Mansfield, Texas · Charles R. Johnson · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32RT-300T PA-32RT-30 · all PA-32RT-300Ts on the register
- Registration
- N39589 · no longer on the register · serial 32R-788113
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PLT, THE NOSE GEAR POSITION LIGHT FLICKERED & THE NOSE GEAR UNSAFE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, JUST PRIOR TO ROTATION. HE REPORTEDLY ABORTED THE TAKEOFF AT THAT TIME, BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP BEFORE GOING OFF THE END OF THE RWY AT 65 TO 70 KTS. AS THE ACFT ROLLED THRU A DITCH, ABOUT 75 YDS FROM THE END OF THE RWY, ALL 3 LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. DUE TO THE IMPACT DAMAGE, THE MECHANICAL CONDITION OF THE NOSE GEAR COULD NOT BE EVALUATED. THE ACFT WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 339 TO 456 LBS OVER ITS MAX GROSS WT.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,387 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 3,140 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1G4D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Budak Aviation
The flight
- Destination: TO2 Houston TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 3,222 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
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.