Piper PA-32-300 accident near Granbury, Texas, July 8, 1992
On July 8, 1992 at about 2:52 am local time, a Piper PA-32-300, registered N4046R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Granbury, Texas (Cherry Field). 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
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE DURING LANDING AND HIS IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 8, 1992 · about 2:52 am local time
- Place
- Granbury, Texas · Cherry Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-300 · all PA-32-300s on the register
- Registration
- N4046R · no longer on the register · serial 32-40345
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE AND BOUNCED THREE TIMES BEFORE DEPARTING OFF THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. IT SUBSEQUENTLY IMPACTED IN A DITCH. THE PILOT DID NOT ATTEMPT TO GO AROUND UNTIL AFTER THE THIRD BOUNCE. HOWEVER, THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND A FOURTH TIME AND THE PILOT ABANDONED THE GO AROUND ATTEMPT. ALL THREE GEAR WERE DRIVEN UP THROUGH THE AIRPLANE STRUCTURE AS WAS THE TAIL TIE DOWN RING. THE PILOT HAD LOADED THE AIRPLANE WITH 560 POUNDS OF CONCRETE BLOCKS AND A SACK OF CONCRETE TO SIMULATE A LOAD.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 430 hours in all; 130 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,103 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 12, 1992; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-E4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: F54 Arlington TX at 2:00 am
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 14, 3,600 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 68°F (20°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.