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Accidents · NTSB FTW84LA159 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Piper PA-36 accident near Lamesa, Texas, March 6, 1984

On March 6, 1984 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-36, registered N57584, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lamesa, Texas. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
March 6, 1984 · about 10:30 pm local time
Place
Lamesa, Texas · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Piper PA-36 · all PA-36s on the register
Registration
N57584 · no longer on the register · serial 36-7560118
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)

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

SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF FOR AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT A PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED. A HARD FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN AN OPEN FIELD WHICH RESULTED IN BOTH MAIN GEARS COLLAPSING. INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED BOTH MAGNETO DISTRIBUTOR BLOCKS WERE CRACKED AND EVIDENCE OF CARBON STREAKING WAS FOUND ON THE MAGNETO LEADS.

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: single-engine land
  • Flight time: 8,000 hours in all; 1,100 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days
  • Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: frt

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 1,970 hours
  • Last inspection: annual inspection, February 7, 1984
  • Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
  • Seats: 1
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Lycoming IO-720-A1B (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 0

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 270° at 5 knots, gusting 8
  • Visibility: 10 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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.