Piper PA-15 accident near Bulverde, Texas, December 4, 1983
On December 4, 1983 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-15, registered N4309H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bulverde, Texas (Bulverde 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
- December 4, 1983 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Bulverde, Texas · Bulverde · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-15 · all PA-15s on the register
- Registration
- N4309H · registry record · serial 15-94
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A DITCH DURING LANDING ROLLOUT AFTER LOSS OF CONTROL AND A GROUNDLOOP. ACCORDING TO THE PLT THE LANDING WAS NORMAL ON A 2850 FT STRIP. THE ACFT GROUNDLOOPED AT SLOW SPEED AND WENT INTO A DITCH OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF RWY 16. THIS FLT WAS THE PLTS INITIAL CHECKOUT IN A TAILWHEEL EQUIPPED ACFT.
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: 58 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 22 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,066 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 29, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-90-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 71TX Boerne TX at 1:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 2,850 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 30°F (-1°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.