Piper PA 28RT-201 accident near Terrell, Texas, January 19, 2016
On January 19, 2016 at about 5:15 pm local time, a 1979 Piper PA 28RT-201, registered N2119N, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Terrell, Texas (Airpark East 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
The private pilot's exceedance of the airplane's critical angle-of-attack during a go-around in gusting crosswind conditions, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and a collision with terrain short of the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 19, 2016 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Terrell, Texas · Airpark East · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 28RT-201 T, built 1979 · all PA 28RT-201s on the register
- Registration
- N2119N · no longer on the register · serial 28R-7918038
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor reported that the private pilot receiving instruction was flying a simulated engine failure approach to an airport in gusty crosswind conditions. When the airplane approached 50 feet above the ground on final, the flight instructor called "go-around." He reported that the instructed pilot "simultaneously pulled back and went full throttle." The flight instructor stated that the airspeed was about 80 knots, and "the airplane fell straight to the ground" short of the runway. After the impact, the airplane bounced forward onto the runway, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane departed the runway to the left about 550 feet from the runway threshold. The flight instructor reported that he verified that the throttle was full forward before the impact. A postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the right wing. The flight instructor reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airport Facility Directory, trees were listed as an obstacle for the runway used. About the time of the accident, 7 nautical miles southeast of the airport, an automated weather observing system reported wind from 190 true at 13 knots, gusting to 21 knots. The tree line was located upwind and parallel to the airplane's final approach. The FAA Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge describes effects of obstructions on wind. The handbook states, "It is especially important to be vigilant when flying in or out of airports that have large buildings or natural obstructions located near the runway." The handbook further states, "During the landing phase of flight, an aircraft may 'drop in' due to the turbulent air and be too low to clear obstacles during the approach."
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
What happened, in order
- Other weather encounter during approach (VFR go-around)
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach (VFR go-around)
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Climb rate › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Capability exceeded
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Variable wind › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Effect on operation
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,300 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 5,500 as pilot in command; 5,500 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 1, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 300 hours in all; 3 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: J. Linn Aviation INC
The flight
- Departed from: HQZ Mesquite TX at 4:15 pm
- Destination: HQZ Mesquite TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 2,630 ft by 30 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 13 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 2,600 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from KTRL, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.