FTW03LA207

Factual narrative

On January 9, 2003, about 1000 central standard time, a Piper PA-28R-200 single-engine airplane, N2981R, sustained substantial damage when it impacted the runway while landing at Northwest Regional Airport (52F) near Roanoke, Texas. The airplane was registered to a private individual and operated by Marcair Aviation, Inc., of Roanoke, Texas. The flight instructor and pilot receiving instruction were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulation Part 91 instructional flight, which departed 52F approximately 0900. The 9,200-hour flight instructor reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that on the preflight inspection of the airplane, no abnormalities were found, but on the post-flight inspection, a crack in the upper skin on the left wing was discovered. The owner of the airplane reported to the FAA that the left main landing gear was forced through the upper left wing skin, and the right main landing gear distorted the upper right wing skin. He also added that the nose gear, engine mount, and steering rods were bent. Runway 17 is 3,500 feet long and 50 feet wide. Wind was reported by the weather observation facility at Fort Worth Alliance Airport (AFW), which is about six miles southwest, to be from 240 degrees at 10 knots. On a post-flight inspection, the left main landing gear was found forced through the upper left wing surface, and the right main landing gear distorted the upper right wing surface. The reason for the failure of the main landing gear assembly and attach points was not determined. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12