Piper PA28 accident near Amarillo, Texas, June 30, 2016
On June 30, 2016 at about 7:45 pm local time, a 1968 Piper PA28, registered N5724F, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Amarillo, Texas (Tradewind airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to attain an adequate rate of climb, which resulted in off airport landing and substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 30, 2016 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Amarillo, Texas · Tradewind · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28 140, built 1968 · all PA28s on the register
- Registration
- N5724F · registry record · serial 28-25025
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After takeoff from an airport with an air density altitude near 6,400 feet, the pilot reported that he felt the airplane was not producing enough lift during the initial climb, so he considered returning to the airport to land, but saw the stall warning light illuminated and decided to land in a newly developed dirt field straight ahead. The pilot further reported that he continued to "nose over to develop airspeed" and maintained wings level throughout the descent. During the touchdown, the nose landing gear collapsed and the fuselage and right wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Loss of lift during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during initial climb
- Landing gear collapse during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Climb rate › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › High density altitude › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 200 hours in all; 32 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 157 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 15, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (waiver time limited special)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,131 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 20, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 5,131 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TDW Amarillo TX at 7:45 pm
- Destination: TDW Amarillo TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from KAMA, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on July 26, 2016. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.