Piper PA-18-150 accident near Brackettville, Texas, August 15, 1995
On August 15, 1995 at about 3:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-18-150, registered N2357Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Brackettville, Texas (Spofford Private airport). It was a public-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS, AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE VARIABLE CROSSWIND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 15, 1995 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Brackettville, Texas · Spofford Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-150 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N2357Z · registry record · serial 18-8109016
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED, THAT DURING THE LANDING ROLL, WITH A LEFT FRONT QUARTERING CROSS WIND, THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT TURNED TO THE LEFT. CORRECTIVE ACTION WAS TAKEN WITHOUT RESULTS. HE THEN APPLIED FULL POWER IN AN ATTEMPT TO 'STRAIGHTEN THE AIRCRAFT WITH THE RUNWAY AND TAKEOFF TO AVOID OTHER PROBLEMS.' AS FULL POWER WAS APPLIED, THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT SWUNG TO THE 'FAR RIGHT AND WOULD NOT RESPOND BACK TO THE LEFT.' THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, STRUCK A FENCE, AND CAME TO REST ON THE EDGE OF HIGHWAY 131, RESULTING IN STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRFRAME ADJACENT TO THE MAIN LANDING GEAR ATTACHING POINTS. ACCORDING TO THE OPERATOR THE PILOT WAS LANDING ON A HEADING OF 195 DEGREES TO A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP. THE OWNER OF THE AIRSTRIP REPORTED THE WINDS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WERE VARIABLE FROM THE EAST AT 10 MPH GUSTING TO 20 MPH, WITH THE WIND SOCK TURNING MORE THAN 30 DEGREES DURING THESE GUSTS.
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: commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,474 hours in all; 36 in this make and model; 55 in the last 90 days; 52 in the last 30 days; 982 as pilot in command; 425 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,329 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 15, 1995; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DRT Del Rio TX at 2:00 pm
- Destination: 55XS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 4,300 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.