Piper PA-22 accident near Amarillo, Texas, October 8, 1989
On October 8, 1989 at about 9:10 pm local time, a Piper PA-22, registered N8727D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Amarillo, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL BY THE PILOT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 8, 1989 · about 9:10 pm local time
- Place
- Amarillo, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22 · all PA-22s on the register
- Registration
- N8727D · registry record · serial 22-5908
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER DEPARTURE THE AIRCRAFT STARTED A LEFT TURN WHICH THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT BY APPLYING RIGHT AILERON AND RUDDER INPUTS. THE PILOT MANEUVERED THE AIRCRAFT TO RETURN TO THE AIRSTRIP FOR A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. DURING THE MANEUVER, THE PILOT DID NOT MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL AND STALLED, RESULTING IN A COLLISION WITH THE TERRAIN. THE PILOT DID NOT USE A CHECK LIST BEFORE TAKE OFF AND FAILED TO SEE THAT THE STABILIZER WAS SET TO THE FULL NOSE DOWN POSITION. THE PILOT SKIDDED THE AIRCRAFT AND DEPLETED THE AIRSPEED TO AVOID A CRANE BOOM AND POWER LINES RESULTING IN A LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,000 hours in all; 565 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ 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-B2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 9:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 2,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.