Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

La Grange, Texas 78945
Wednesday, March 2, 1983 16:10 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT ELECTED TO TAKEOFF TO THE NORTH ON A DOWNSLOPING PAVED ROAD. HE REPORTED THAT THE WIND WAS VARIABLE FROM THE SOUTHWEST AT 2 TO 4 KTS, GUSTING 4 TO 6 KTS. AT AUSTIN, TX, THE WIND WAS FROM 190 DEG AT 13 GUSTING 20 KTS & AT COLLEGE STATION, TX, IT WAS FROM 200 DEG AT 11 KTS. THE SELECTED ROADWAY WAS APPRX 1800 LONG, THEN CURVED TO THE RIGHT. DURING THE TAKEOFF, THE ACFT BECAME AIRBORNE BEFORE REACHING THE CURVE, BUT THE LEFT WING HIT 35 FT TREES ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD AFTER LIFT-OFF & THE ACFT CRASHED. ACCORDING TO THE ACFT'S OPERATING HANDBOOK, 1624 FT WAS REQUIRED TO CLEAR A 50 FT OBSTACLE IN NO WIND CONDITIONS. THE PLT STATED THAT HE ENCOUNTERED AN ENG PROBLEM, BUT NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. THE PLT ALSO STATED THAT HE HAD PREVIOUSLY ENCOUNTERED AN ENG PROBLEM & HAD MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON THE ROAD, THEN ELECTED TO TAKEOFF AFTER THE ENG & FUEL CHECKED NORMAL. HOWEVER, WITNESSES TOLD LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL THAT THE PLT HAD LANDED & PICKED UP THE PASSENGER. SPEED & PROP SLASH MARKS INDICATED 2450 RPM

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/2/1983
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1610
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City LA GRANGE
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 78945
Event Date Year 1983
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 10
Degrees magnetic from airport 195
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Witness
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 Scattered
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) 20
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
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 Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2332
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 22667
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8384A
NTSB Number FTW83FA134
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-181
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-181
Aircraft Serial Number 28-8190235
Certified Max Gross Weight 2550
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jan 12 1983 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 550
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MORT HALL AVIATION
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO BOX 73117
Aircraft Owner City HOUSTON
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 77090
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code DWH
Destination City HOUSTON
Destination State TX
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --