Piper PA-28-140 accident near Stephenville, Texas, May 28, 1995
On May 28, 1995 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N9541W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Stephenville, Texas (Clark Field Municipal). It was an instructional 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 FAILURE TO EXECUTE A GO-AROUND. FACTORS WERE THE EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED AND HIGH GLIDEPATH DURING THE APPROACH.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 28, 1995 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Stephenville, Texas · Clark Field Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N9541W · no longer on the register · serial 28-22971
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
FOLLOWING AN APPROACH THE STUDENT PILOT CHARACTERIZED AS 'TOO HIGH AND TOO FAST', THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN AT MIDFIELD. WHEN THE PILOT REALIZED HE WOULD BE UNABLE TO STOP ON THE REMAINING RUNWAY, HE ELECTED TO EXIT THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE 4,183 FOOT LONG RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE CROSSED A TAXIWAY AND THEN IMPACTED A FENCE.
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: student
- Flight time: 85 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 11 as pilot in command; 77 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,458 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 16, 1995; 29 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: F54 Arlington TX at 4:47 pm
- Destination: SEP
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 14, 4,183 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 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.
Other NTSB records under N9541W the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.