Piper PA-18-150 N2320P

Summary

On 3 March 1997 at about 16:30 local time, a Piper PA-18-150 registered N2320P was involved in an accident near Laredo, Texas, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 March 1997 at 16:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Laredo, Texas, United States

Coordinates

27.5097, -99.5008

Aircraft

Piper PA-18-150

Registration

N2320P

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Public Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Freer → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW97TA115

1 person had minor injuries.

the pilot allowed the airplane to get into an excessive rate of descent, during approach for an off-airport landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was assisting ground agents (with the United States Border Patrol) in pursuit of an illegal alien and was visually monitoring the pursuit from an altitude of 500 feet AGL. He elected to make an off-airport landing to assist the ground agents. He configured the airplane (power idle, airspeed 45 mph, flaps 30 degrees) and initiated a 60 degree bank descending turn for landing. During the descending turn, the airspeed increased to approximately 60 mph. When the pilot leveled the wings, the airplane had a rapid closure rate with the ground (1,500 to 2,000 fpm). Realizing that the descent rate was too high, the pilot initiated a go-around; however, the airplane impacted the ground, rotated to the right while skidding, and came to rest 90 degrees to the approach path. The terrain was root plowed ground that was rough with patches of grass.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.