Piper PA-28-161 accident near Longview, Texas, May 30, 1996
On May 30, 1996 at about 8:13 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N8275Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Longview, Texas (Gregg County airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
an improper flare by the pilot rated student, while landing with a tailwind; and inadequate supervision by the flight instructor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 30, 1996 · about 8:13 pm local time
- Place
- Longview, Texas · Gregg County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N8275Z · no longer on the register · serial 28-8316002
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A commercial pilot (student) was taking dual instruction with a flight instructor (CFI) aboard. They elected to make a power-off landing on runway 17. The wind at that time was reported to be from 010 degrees at 8 knots. While on the approach, the student initiated a forward slip to loose altitude. When the airplane came out of the slip, the speed was about 60 knots. As the airplane was being flared for landing, the nose dropped. The instructor said he applied power and tried to correct the situation, but the airplane touched down hard and was damaged.
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: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,484 hours in all; 1,117 in this make and model; 185 in the last 90 days; 57 in the last 30 days; 1,262 as pilot in command; 1,097 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,418 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 29, 1996; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,440 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GGG at 7:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 6,109 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,100 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.