Piper PA-22-150 accident near Crosbyton, Texas, May 27, 1989
On May 27, 1989, a Piper PA-22-150, registered N7648D, was destroyed in an accident near Crosbyton, Texas (Private Strip airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S JUDGEMENT OF ALTITUDE AND DISTANCE WHILE ON AN APPROACH TO LAND. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE HIGH WIND, TRANSMISSION LINE, AND AIRPORT FUEL TANK.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 27, 1989
- Place
- Crosbyton, Texas · Private Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-150 · all PA-22-150s on the register
- Registration
- N7648D · no longer on the register · serial 22-5357
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS RETURNING FROM A LOCAL FLIGHT WHEN A FRONTAL SYSTEM PASSED THROUGH THE AREA. HE APPROACHED THE AIRPORT FROM THE WEST & WAS ON SHORT FINAL WHEN THE ACFT STRUCK A 30 FT HIGH POWER LINE WITH THE NOSE STRUT. THE AIRCRAFT THEN DESCENDED & STRUCK A FUEL TANK PRIOR TO IMPACTING THE TERRAIN.
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: 1,138 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 2,640 ft by 20 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 30 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.