Piper PA-28R-200 accident near Midlothian, Texas, April 8, 1993
On April 8, 1993 at about 9:10 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-200, registered N4439T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Midlothian, Texas (Midlothian airport). It was a business 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
FAILURE OF THE ENGINE COWLING LATCH RESULTING IN DETERIORATING AIRPLANE PERFORMANCE AND A FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 8, 1993 · about 9:10 pm local time
- Place
- Midlothian, Texas · Midlothian · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N4439T · no longer on the register · serial 28R-7235051
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING CLIMBOUT THE ENGINE COWLING LATCH FAILED, AND THE COWLING OPENED COMING TO REST AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD. THE COWLING BLOCKED THE PILOT'S FORWARD VIEW, AND ACTED AS A FLAT PLATE CAUSING DRAG THAT COULD NOT BE OVERCOME WITH FULL POWER. THE MAX AIRSPEED THAT COULD BE GAINED WITH A FULL POWER WAS NO MORE THAN 70 KTS, AND THE SINK RATE DEVELOPED TO APRX 1,000 FPM. THE PILOT COULD NOT MAKE THE DESIRED RUNWAY AND LANDED IN AN ADJACENT FIELD COLLAPSING THE LANDING GEAR. THE LEFT FRONT LATCH HAD FAILED; THE RIGHT FRONT LATCH SUBSEQUENTLY CAME OPEN.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,000 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 2,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,573 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 22, 1992; 90 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-366-CIC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4T6 at 9:05 pm
- Destination: ESF Alexandria LA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 5,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 17 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:51 pm from FTW
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.