Piper PA-28-180 accident near Friendswood, Texas, September 22, 1991
On September 22, 1991 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N8457W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Friendswood, Texas (Polly Ranch airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING LANDING. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS MECHANICAL TURBULENCE CAUSED BY NEARBY BUILDINGS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 22, 1991 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Friendswood, Texas · Polly Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N8457W · no longer on the register · serial 28-2693
- 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 HE ENCOUNTERED A GUST OF WIND DURING THE FLARE WHICH CAUSED THE AIRPLANE TO DRIFT TO THE RIGHT. THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR TOUCHED DOWN OFF OF THE SHOULDER OF THE PAVEMENT AND THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO DRIFT RIGHT UNTIL IT STRUCK A FENCE. THE PILOT'S ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT THE DRIFT WERE NOT SUCCESSFUL. THE WINDS WERE DOWN THE RUNWAY AT 7 KNOTS; HOWEVER, IT WAS NOTED THAT THERE WERE HANGARS ERECTED ABOUT 200 FEET OFF OF BOTH SIDES OF THE TOUCHDOWN ZONE.
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: 63 hours in all; 63 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 49 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,958 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 4, 1991; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,175 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11, 2,600 ft by 24 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 11,000 ft; scat at 4,200 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.