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Accidents · NTSB FTW84LA011 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Piper PA-32-301T accident near Junction, Texas, October 8, 1983

On October 8, 1983 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-301T, registered N8272Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Junction, Texas (Y.O. Ranch airport). It was a personal 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
October 8, 1983 · about 5:30 pm local time
Place
Junction, Texas · Y.O. Ranch · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Piper PA-32-301T · all PA-32-301Ts on the register
Registration
N8272Y · registry record · serial 328024052
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

WHILE LANDING, THE PLT NOTICED A PLANE PARKED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RWY, AT THE DEPARTURE END. HE BECAME CONCERNED THAT HE WAS NOT SLOWING AS FAST AS HE DESIRED & THAT THERE WOULD BE INSUFFICIENT ROOM TO PASS. THEREFORE, HE PULLED THE PARKING BRAKE HANDLE. THE ACFT THEN BEGAN TO 'PULL TO THE LEFT.' IT CONTINUED OFF THE SHOULDER OF THE NARROW RWY & WENT DOWN A 4 TO 5 FT GRADE. THE LEFT WING CONTACTED THE GROUND CAUSING THE ACFT TO ENTER SIDEWARD SLIDE. AN EXAM REVEALED NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. A MECHANIC STATED THAT IF THE PARKING BRAKE IS USED WHILE THE ACFT IS IN MOTION, ONE BRAKE WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY LOCK UP BEFORE THE OTHER.

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
  • Flight time: 429 hours in all; 429 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 429 as pilot in command
  • Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: left

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 755 hours
  • Last inspection: annual inspection, January 4, 1983
  • Maximum gross weight: 6,500 lb
  • Seats: 6
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-S1AD (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: AUS Austin TX at 4:30 pm
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 35, 2,200 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 120° at 5 knots
  • Visibility: 5 statute miles
  • Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
  • Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
  • Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1
Passengers1

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.

Other NTSB records under N8272Y the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time

1991-09-21LAX91FA399 · accident near Cupertino, CA · destroyed · fatal
1986-07-30DEN86LA217 · accident near Monument Valley, UT · substantial damage · no injuries

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.