Piper PA-28-235 accident near Wingate, Texas, May 21, 1994
On May 21, 1994 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-235, registered N8895W, was destroyed in an accident near Wingate, Texas (Flying W Ranch airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
WAS THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALIGNMENT. FACTORS WERE THE WIND, AND THE PILOT'S IMPROPER CORRECTIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 21, 1994 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Wingate, Texas · Flying W Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-235 · all PA-28-235s on the register
- Registration
- N8895W · no longer on the register · serial 28-10458
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED DRIFTING OVER LARGE MESQUITE TREES ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE AIRSTRIP DURING INITIAL TAKEOFF CLIMB FROM RUNWAY 17. THE AIRPLANE WAS THE LAST OF SEVEN AIRPLANES TO DEPART THE AIRSTRIP FOLLOWING A FLY-IN LUNCHEON HOSTED BY A LOCAL FLYING CLUB. THE AIRPLANE WAS REPORTED TO BE 6 TO 8 FEET ABOVE THE TREES WHEN A SHALLOW RIGHT BANK WAS ESTABLISHED AND THE RIGHT WING IMPACTED THE TOP OF THE TREES. THE WIND WAS REPORTED AS VARIABLE FROM 140 TO 150 DEGREES AT 8 TO 10 KNOTS. THE PILOT'S SON AND HIS WIFE WERE STANDING AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE AIRSTRIP TAKING PICTURES OF THE AIRPLANE.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 16,200 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,234 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1994; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 8:14 pm
- Destination: 21XS Big Spring TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 2,100 ft by 35 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from ABI, 28 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 | 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.