Piper PA-32R-301 accident near Plainview, Texas, September 21, 1984
On September 21, 1984, a Piper PA-32R-301, registered N522MM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Plainview, Texas (Hale County airport). It was an instructional 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 21, 1984
- Place
- Plainview, Texas · Hale County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-301 · all PA-32R-301s on the register
- Registration
- N522MM · registry record · serial 32R-8013001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CFI STATED THAT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THE PRIVATE PLT, IN PREPARATION FOR HIS COMMERCIAL CERTIFICATE, WAS FLYING A POWER OFF 'SPOT LANDING' WITH A DESIRED TOUCHDOWN POINT AT THE SECOND CENTERLINE STRIPE. IN AN EFFORT TO REACH THE LANDING POINT WITH FULL FLAPS EXTENDED, THE AIRPLANE WAS FLARED ABOUT 12 FT AGL AND LANDED ABOUT 8 FT SHORT OFTHE RWY. THE ACFT ROLLED OVER THE LIP AT THE END OF THE RWY THRESHOLD AND THE LEFT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 535 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 227 in the last 90 days; 412 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 892 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 15, 1983; 263 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 4,000 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.