NTSB Factual Report

On January 15, 2004, at 1117 central standard time, a Piper PA-32R single-engine airplane, N4136S, was substantially damaged when it impacted a fence on final approach to Pickle Plantation Airport (XS91) near Poynor, Texas. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated by D'Cap Industries Inc., of Poynor, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.

In a written statement, the pilot stated that he had departed Pickle Plantation airport earlier that day for a local, pleasure flight. Upon his return to the airport, he encountered a downdraft on final approach to runway 17, which caused the airplane to descend more rapidly than normal. The landing gear impacted a barbed wire fence, and the airplane landed approximately 7-feet short of the runway. Runway 17 was reported to be 3,200 feet long by 40 feet wide.

According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who responded to the accident site, the main gear had separated from the airplane and the nose gear was folded up in the nose gear wheel-well. Both wings were "buckled and wrinkled," and all three propeller blades were bent back.

The pilot reported a total of 5,216.5 flight hours, of which, 1,447.1 hours were in the same make and model airplane.

The weather at Tyler Pounds Regional Airport (TYR), near Tyler, Texas, 19 miles northeast of the accident site, at 1053, was reported as winds from 090 degrees at 12 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, few clouds at 2,400 feet, broken at 3,400 feet, and a barometric pressure of 30.18 inches of Mercury. The temperature was 61 degrees Fahrenheit, and the dewpoint was 39 degrees Fahrenheit.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while on final approach. A factor was the downdraft.