Piper PA24 accident near Slaton, Texas, February 12, 2019
On February 12, 2019 at about 9:15 pm local time, a 1967 Piper PA24, registered N9184P, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Slaton, Texas (Slaton Muni 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 student pilot's complacency, which led to his improper crosswind correction and subsequent failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion and ground collision.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 12, 2019 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Slaton, Texas · Slaton Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA24 260, built 1967 · all PA24s on the register
- Registration
- N9184P · no longer on the register · serial 24-4674
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot reported that, during landing, he became complacent and did not compensate for a right crosswind. The airplane exited the left side of the runway, crossed over the taxiway, and the right main landing gear collapsed. Subsequently, the right wing and the stabilator struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and the stabilator. The student reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The student reported that the wind about the time of the accident was from 220° at 9 knots. The student landed the airplane on runway 18.
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 landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) 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 › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Personality/attitude › Complacency › Student/instructed pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Crosswind correction › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 48 hours in all; 48 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 7 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,132.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 12, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-D4A5 (piston); 622 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: F98 Plains TX at 8:50 pm
- Destination: F49 Slaton TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 4,244 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.37 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from LBB, 50 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on June 25, 2019. 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 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages | 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.