Piper PA19/L-18C N3134F

Summary

On 22 July 2006 at about 13:40 local time, a Piper PA19/L-18C registered N3134F was involved in an accident near Katy, Texas, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

22 July 2006 at 13:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Katy, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Westheimer Air Park (O07)

Coordinates

29.6800, -95.7900

Aircraft

Piper PA19/L-18C

Registration

N3134F

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DFW06CA189

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering resulting in an inadvertent stall/spin.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The 2,486-hour commercial pilot lost control of the single-engine airplane while maneuvering at low airspeed over a hot-air balloon that landed approximately 500 yards south of a grass-strip runway. The airport owner, who observed the airplane prior to the accident, stated that the pilot was performing touch and go landings at the airport, where there were hot-air balloon operations in the vicinity. He added that he observed the accident airplane perform a couple of low passes in the area where a balloon had landed. The wreckage of the airplane was found approximately one mile south of the airport. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who responded to the accident site, reported that the tricycle gear airplane was found in a right wing low, nose down attitude, which he stated was consistent with ground impact as a result of a stall/spin mishap. He added that the left wing was bent forward, and the right main landing gear was folded under the fuselage. He added that fuel was present in the fuel tank; however, there was no post-impact fire. The wind was reported from 270 degrees at 6 knots at the time of the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.