Piper PA-18-150 accident near Midland, Texas, June 9, 1989
On June 9, 1989 at about 1:55 pm local time, a Piper PA-18-150, registered N3937Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Midland, Texas (Midland Intl 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, WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL. THE HIGH, GUSTY, CROSSWIND 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
- June 9, 1989 · about 1:55 pm local time
- Place
- Midland, Texas · Midland Intl
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-150 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N3937Z · registry record · serial 18-7783
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT RPRTD THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS IMMEDIATELY AFTER ADVANCING POWER FOR TAKEOFF. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT BECAME AIRBORNE & WENT OUT OF CONTROL. THE PLT SAID THE WIND BLEW THE ACFT SIDEWAYS, THEN IT NOSED INTO THE GROUND & FLIPPED OVER. THE WIND WAS RPRTD TO BE FROM 120 DEG AT 22 GUSTING 28 KTS.
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: 507 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 422 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,808 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 24, 1989; 56 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MAF at 1:55 pm
- Destination: OZA Ozona TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16R, 9,501 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 22 knots, gusting 28
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,300 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:50 pm from MAF
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.
Other NTSB records under N3937Z the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.