Matagorda Is. Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Matagorda Is., Texas 77457
Saturday, March 30, 1985 19:02 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT EXECUTED A VFR GO-AROUND WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH DUE TO LIVESTOCK ON THE RUNWAY AND REPORTEDLY EXPERIENCED ENGINE POWER LOSS. THE AIRCRAFT MADE A FORCED LANDING ON THE BEACH AND FLIPPED INVERTED, COMING TO REST IN THE WATER ALONGSIDE THE BEACH. THE WRECKAGE HAS NOT BEEN RECOVERED FROM THE SALT WATER. REASON FOR ENGINE FAILURE IS UNKNOWN. THE PLT FAILED TO RETURN THE ACCIDENT REPORTING FORM WHICH WAS SENT TO HIM FOR COMPLIANCE, THEREFORE MUCH OF THE ACCIDENT INFORMATION IS NOT REPORTED/UNKNOWN.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/30/1985
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1902
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City MATAGORDA IS.
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 77457
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MATAGORDA IS.
Event Location Nearest Airport ID XS10
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 10
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1902 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 315
Weather Observation Facility ID PSX
Elevation of weather observation facility 15
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 110
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 31 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1100
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 28484
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:14AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3562X
NTSB Number FTW85LA169
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28RT-201T
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28RT-20
Aircraft Serial Number 28R8031033
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JAMES T. TASSO
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4100 PARK DR.
Aircraft Owner City ROUND ROCK
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 78664
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City AUSTIN
Departure State TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 1800
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 3700
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --