Private Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Moran, Texas 76464
Monday, April 7, 2003 17:40 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While landing at a private grass airstrip, the single-engine airplane touched down short of the runway. The airplane bounced, drifted right and struck a 7-foot tall mesquite tree. The aircraft came to rest on its nose, approximately 20 feet past the tree.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Landing short of the runway due to the pilot's failure to maintain a proper glide path, which resulted in the airplane impacting a tree. A contributing factor was the short runway.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/7/2003
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1740
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Moran
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 76464
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 323027N
Event Location Longitude 0991228W
Event Location Airport Private
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NONE
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 1200
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
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) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 20
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 13486
NTSB Notification Source Pilot/Owner
NTSB Notification Date Apr 9 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 830
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record May 30 2003 9:51AM
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 N18141
NTSB Number FTW03LA126
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-18
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18-1332
Certified Max Gross Weight 1800
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 15 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 58
Airframe Hours 1583
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name James P. Shultz and Robert B. Butler
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3125 Phillip Dr.
Aircraft Owner City Hurst
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 76054
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Robert B. Butler
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1608 Colonnade Drive
Operator City Arlington
Operator State TX
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 76018
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 F23
Departure City Ranger
Departure State TX
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1730
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code NONE
Destination City Moran
Destination State TX
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - flare/touchdown
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 29 2003 5:51PM
User who most recently changed record CASH
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 270
Runway Length 800
Runway Width 40
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --