Piper PA-32R accident near Stratford, Texas, May 30, 1989
On May 30, 1989 at about 2:12 am local time, a Piper PA-32R, registered N3279Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Stratford, Texas (Stratford 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
IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, AND HIS INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS, WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL. THE WIND CONDITION WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 30, 1989 · about 2:12 am local time
- Place
- Stratford, Texas · Stratford · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R · all PA-32Rs on the register
- Registration
- N3279Q · registry record · serial 32R-7780302
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING AN APPROACH TO LAND, THE PILOT INITIATED A GO-AROUND AFTER ENCOUNTERING A WIND SHIFT. CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE WAS LOST DURING THE GO-AROUND AND THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A LEVEL ATTITUDE. THE PILOT REPORTED WINDS AT THE ACCIDENT SITE WERE FROM 160 DEGREES GUSTING TO 50 KNOTS.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,256 hours in all; 1,140 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,167 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 16, 1988; 19 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sherman Implement CO.
The flight
- Departed from: TUL Tulsa OK at 11:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 3,200 ft by 32 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 50 knots, gusting 50
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:50 am from DHT, 25 miles away
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.