Piper PA-38-112 accident near Brownsville, Texas, January 26, 1997
On January 26, 1997 at about 6:10 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2422N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Brownsville, Texas (Brownsville International airport). 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 delayed go-around and subsequent inadvertent stall. A factor was the gusty winds.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 26, 1997 · about 6:10 pm local time
- Place
- Brownsville, Texas · Brownsville International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N2422N · no longer on the register · serial 38-79A0834
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot, aware of the displaced (2,600 feet) threshold, was cleared for landing on runway 17. During the final approach with full flaps (37 degrees), the airplane started 'dropping' from approximately 100 feet AGL and the pilot added 1/2 throttle; however, the added power 'did not stop the drop.' Upon making a go-around decision, the pilot added full power and retracted the flaps to 21 degrees. Subsequently, the left wing of the airplane hit the dirt and the airplane spun around 150 degrees before coming to rest in the grass at the side of the runway. The operator reported that the student had received instruction on all the solo requirements including emergency procedures and go-around procedures. The student stated that he had not done a go-around with an instructor; however, during a previous solo flight, he had made a go-around from 400 feet AGL during an approach for runway 31 and this was his first attempted go-around from a low altitude. The Pilot/Operator Report, stated that 'while attempting a go-around the aircraft stalled [with] the left wing impacting the ground.' Winds varied from 160 degrees to 170 degrees at 13 knots with gust to 22 knots.
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: 41 hours in all; 24 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 5 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,278 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 22, 1997; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Southwind Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: BRO at 4:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 6,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°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.