Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Westbrook, Texas 79565
Tuesady, September 3, 1985 12:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THERE WERE NO KNOWN EYE WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT. AVAILABLE EVIDENCE REVEALS THAT THE PILOT MOST PROBABLY MADE A SUCCESSFUL LANDING IN THE REMOTELY LOCATED FIELD AND ROLLED TO A STOP. THE SHERIFF REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE OIL WAS DRAINED ONTO THE GROUND AT THIS POINT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS THEN TAXIED BACK 1300 FEET AND MADE ANOTHER TURN AND STOPPED. THE CONTROLWHEEL WAS FOUND TIED IN THE REAR POSITION WITH THE SEAT BELT. THE PILOT APPARENTLY CLIMBED ONTO THE LEFT WING, OPENED THE THROTTLE BY REACHING THROUGH THE OPENING CREATED BY THE MISSING LEFT COCKPIT WINDOW AND JUMPED OFF ONTO THE GROUND AND APPARENTLY WAS HIT WITH THE LEFT STABILATOR. THE AIRCRAFT TRAVELED ABOUT 50 YARDS BEFORE VEERING RIGHT INTO ROUGH TERRAIN AND STOPPED. THE PILOT REPORTEDLY CALLED THE MITCHELL COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, REPORTED THE ACCIDENT AND STATED THAT HE WAS INJURED. THE PHONE WHICH HE REPORTEDLY USED WAS LOCATED SEVERAL MILES FROM THE ACCIDENT SITE. THE PILOT THEN DISAPPEARED AND HIS WHEREABOUTS IS STILL UNKNOWN.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/3/1985
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1200
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City WESTBROOK
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 79565
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 30
Degrees magnetic from airport 50
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 37
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2133
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 5 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 730
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 29574
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8043C
NTSB Number FTW85LA337
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-181
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-181
Aircraft Serial Number 28-7690098
Certified Max Gross Weight 2450
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Aug 10 1985 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 2584
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ECONOMY AVIATION RENTAL
Aircraft Owner Street Address ROUTE 1
Aircraft Owner City MCKINNEY
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 75069
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 TX05
Departure City MCKINNEY
Departure State TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 645
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 21XS
Destination City BIG SPRING
Destination State TX
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
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 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --