Bridgeport Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bridgeport, Texas 76426
Monday, July 16, 2001 3:15 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The non-certificated pilot, who had stolen the airplane, attempted to land on a lighted runway during dark night conditions. The airplane came to rest in a 20 to 30 degree nose down attitude on the approach end of the runway approximately 5 feet to the right of the runway centerline. Examination of the engine and airframe did not reveal any discrepancies that would have precluded normal operation prior to the accident. The non-certificated pilot was reported to have 6 hours of previous flight time.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the non-certificated pilot's improper flare which resulted in a hard landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/16/2001
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 315
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Bridgeport
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 76426
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 331031N
Event Location Longitude 0974942W
Event Location Airport Bridgeport Municipal
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 1F9
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 852
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 253 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID DTO
Elevation of weather observation facility 642
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 30
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 24
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 140
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.87
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 11488
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Jul 16 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 520
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Feb 20 2002 1:46PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Fort Worth, Texas

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8454W
NTSB Number FTW01LA165
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-28-180
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 28-2690
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 2 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 69
Airframe Hours 3549
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Walter L. Cundiff
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2220 Lake Country Drive
Aircraft Owner City Weatherford
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 76087
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Adam W. Bramblett
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address UNKNOWN
Operator City Weatherford
Operator State TX
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 76087
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 WEA
Departure City Weatherford
Departure State TX
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code DUC
Destination City DUNCAN
Destination State OK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - flare/touchdown
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Jan 28 2002 6:09PM
User who most recently changed record MORJU
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 17
Runway Length 4004
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --