Piper PA-38 accident near Midland, Texas, September 3, 1984
On September 3, 1984 at about 6:20 pm local time, a Piper PA-38, registered N2324A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Midland, Texas (Sky 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
- September 3, 1984 · about 6:20 pm local time
- Place
- Midland, Texas · Sky Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38 · all PA-38s on the register
- Registration
- N2324A · registry record · serial 38-78A0638
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
BOTH PLTS WERE PRACTICING 180 DEGREE POWER OFF 'SPOT' LANDINGS AFTER HIATUS FROM FLYING ACTIVITY. PLT IN LEFT SEAT WAS AT CONTROLS, UNDERSHOT SLIGHTLY AND ACFT BOUNCED ON TOUCHDOWN. PLT APPLIED POWER FOR RECOVERY FROM THE BOUNCED LNDG BUT RIGHT SEAT PLT ALSO TOOK CONTROLS AND INTERFERED WITH THE RECOVERY. ACFT SETTLED TO THE GROUND LEFT WING LOW RESULTING IN A SWERVE TO THE LEFT. LEFT SEAT PLT CUT POWER AND APPLIED BRAKES AS ACFT DEPARTED RUNWAY. ACFT CONTINUED ACROSS RAMP AREA AND COLLIDED WITH A FUEL PUMP.
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: 328 hours in all; 28 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 294 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,308 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 3, 1984; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-23-5L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 5,000 ft by 30 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.