Piper PA-24-260 accident near La Grange, Texas, July 20, 1988
On July 20, 1988 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-260, registered N8949P, was substantially damaged in an accident near La Grange, Texas (La Grange Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
- July 20, 1988 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- La Grange, Texas · La Grange Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-260 · all PA-24-260s on the register
- Registration
- N8949P · no longer on the register · serial 4405
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID HE FLEW OVER THE AIRPORT AND FOUND THE WINDS FAVORED A LANDING ON RUNWAY 18. HE SAID HE DESCENDED TO THE DOWNWIND LEG, AND WHEN HE ADDED POWER, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESPOND. HOWEVER, HE SAID THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN. HE DECIDED TO MAKE AN ABBREVIATED PATTERN, USE FULL FLAPS, AND LAND ON THE LAST HALF OF THE RUNWAY. THE TIRE SKID MARKS START 600 FEET FROM THE END OF THE RUNWAY, THEN CONTINUED TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE END. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK SEVERAL RUNWAY LIGHTS, WENT DOWN AN EMBANKMENT, THEN STRUCK A FENCE POST. AN FAA INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE WRECKAGE AND WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE A REASON FOR A LACK OF ENGINE RESPONSE.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,100 hours in all; 1,200 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 1,950 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,600 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 15, 1988; 49 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-D4A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3R9 Austin TX at 1:30 pm
- Destination: T49
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 18, 3,200 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.