Mid-Valley Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Weslaco, Texas 78596
Thursday, July 11, 2013 13:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The flight instructor reported that the pilot receiving instruction was attempting to perform a soft field landing on runway 31 during the second landing of the flight. The flight instructor reported that the wind was from 160 degrees at 12 knots, gusting to 18 knots. During the landing flare, the airplane was “getting pushed” off centerline. The flight instructor informed the pilot receiving instruction to put in full power and do a go-around. The airplane’s nose wheel struck a light generator on the side of the runway causing the airplane to skid across the taxiway and into the grass, which resulted in substantial damage to the wing. The flight instructor reported that there was no malfunction or system failure of the airplane before the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot receiving instruction failed to compensate for the crosswind condition during landing, and the flight instructor's delayed corrective action.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/11/2013
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1300
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Weslaco
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 78596
Event Date Year 2013
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 261039N
Event Location Longitude 0975823W
Event Location Airport Mid-Valley Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID T65
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 70
Weather Briefing Completeness --
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 2500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Broken
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 36
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 160
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 18
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.88
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 31721
NTSB Notification Source FAA-ASW-ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 1 2013 11:12AM
User who most recently changed record silj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5003S
NTSB Number CEN13CA407
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Unknown
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28R-200
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 28R-35727
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 1 2013 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 16105
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PRAAT AIR SERVICES INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1909 JOE STEPHENS DR HGR E24
Aircraft Owner City WELASCO
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 78596
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name PRAAT AIR SERVICES INC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 1909 JOE STEPHENS DR HGR E24
Operator City WELASCO
Operator State TX
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 78596
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code T65
Departure City Weslaco
Departure State TX
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1300
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code T65
Destination City Weslaco
Destination State TX
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 1 2013 10:09AM
User who most recently changed record silj
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 31
Runway Length 4998
Runway Width 70
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --