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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 8, 1983 · about 5:30 pm local time · cases in 1983
- 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
| 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.
Other NTSB records under N8272Y the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N8272Y on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Piper PA-32 Cherokee Six, Lance and Saratoga 3,916 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Piper 44,840 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-S1AD 13 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Austin-Bergstrom International · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Texas 6,244 since 1982 · 1,063 in the last ten years
- Texas 29,976 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N8272Y 2 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/FTW84LA011.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.