Piper PA-28R-200 accident near Wichita Falls, Texas, February 16, 1991
On February 16, 1991 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-200, registered N9490N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wichita Falls, Texas (Kickapoo airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR CROSSWIND CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED ON FINAL AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE ATTEMPTED GO AROUND. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE UNFAVORABLE GUSTING CROSSWIND CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 16, 1991 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Wichita Falls, Texas · Kickapoo · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N9490N · no longer on the register · serial 28R-35211
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT WHILE ON A ONE EIGHTH MILE FINAL FOR RUNWAY 17, HE ENCOUNTERED A STRONG CROSSWIND FROM THE RIGHT. THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO DRIFT LEFT AND HE WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE DRIFT. THE PILOT ELECTED TO GO AROUND. DURING THE GO AROUND, THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO DRIFT LEFT OFF OF THE RUNWAY UNTIL IT COLLIDED WITH BUSHES AND THE GROUND. THE WINDS WERE REPORTED TO BE FROM 180 DEGREES AT 17 KNOTS, GUSTING TO 24 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
- Flight time: 197 hours in all; 29 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 155 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,999 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 4, 1991; 42 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Flight Dynamics, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 4,205 ft by 45 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 17 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 14,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from SPS, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.