Piper PA 24-260 accident near Spring Branch, TX
On May 16, 2015, a Piper PA 24-260 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Spring Branch, TX. 4 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- May 16, 2015
- Place
- Spring Branch, TX
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 24-260 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 4 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 29.813°N, 98.416°W
- NTSB ID
- 20150516X60316
Official records · CEN15FA232
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- Memorandum for Record - Communication Summary J. Butler: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
- Memorandum for Record - Communication Summary L. Doud: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn May 16, 2015, about 1231 central daylight time, a Piper PA-24-260 airplane, N9032P, impacted terrain near Spring Branch, Texas. The pilot and three passengers sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was destroyed during the impact and subsequent ground fire. The airplane was registered to an individual and was operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as personal flight. Day visual flight rules conditions prevailed for the flight, which did not operate on a flight plan. The local flight was originating from the Kestrel Airpark (1T7), near Spring Branch, Texas, at the time of the accident. A witness at 1T7 saw the accident airplane taxi from the common area/hangars on the north taxiway and saw it headed to runway 12. There was a strong quartering headwind for runway 12. The witness estimated the wind was 20 knots sustained, gusting 25-30 knots. He watched the accident airplane's takeoff roll. The aircraft climbed and was about 20-30 feet in the air when it was abeam the witness. The aircraft's nose dropped for a couple seconds after it passed him. It then started climbing out and the witness saw and heard the landing gear retracting. The airplane was about 100 feet above the ground. The aircraft then looked like it weathervaned into the wind and continued climbing to about 200-300 feet above the ground. At that point, the witness stopped watching the airplane. He stated that he did not notice anything fall off the airplane or anything unusual about the appearance of sound of the airplane during its taxi by and its
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain control during takeoff due to his impairment from marijuana. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s impaired decision to fly after using a disqualifying drug.
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Browse: Texas · Piper aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
