La Grange Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

La Grange, Texas 78945
Wednesday, July 20, 1988 9:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT SAID HE FLEW OVER THE AIRPORT AND FOUND THE WINDS FAVORED A LANDING ON RUNWAY 18. HE SAID HE DESCENDED TO THE DOWNWIND LEG, AND WHEN HE ADDED POWER, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESPOND. HOWEVER, HE SAID THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN. HE DECIDED TO MAKE AN ABBREVIATED PATTERN, USE FULL FLAPS, AND LAND ON THE LAST HALF OF THE RUNWAY. THE TIRE SKID MARKS START 600 FEET FROM THE END OF THE RUNWAY, THEN CONTINUED TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE END. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK SEVERAL RUNWAY LIGHTS, WENT DOWN AN EMBANKMENT, THEN STRUCK A FENCE POST. AN FAA INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE WRECKAGE AND WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE A REASON FOR A LACK OF ENGINE RESPONSE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/20/1988
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 900
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City LA GRANGE
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 78945
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport LA GRANGE MUNICIPAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID T49
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 275
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2070
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 20 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1115
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 38440
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 11:56AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8949P
NTSB Number FTW88LA135
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-24-260
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-24-260
Aircraft Serial Number 4405
Certified Max Gross Weight 3100
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 15 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 49
Airframe Hours 3600
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CHATAGNIER, KENT J.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 110 FLYING SCOT
Aircraft Owner City AUSTIN
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 78734
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name JACK J. CHATAGNIER
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 110 FLYING SCOT, LAKEWAY ARPT
Operator City AUSTIN
Operator State TX
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 78734
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 3R9
Departure City AUSTIN
Departure State TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 830
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code T49
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length 3200
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --