Piper PA-28-140 accident near Nacogdoches, Texas, November 8, 2008
On November 8, 2008 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N8485R, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Nacogdoches, Texas (Al Mangham Jr Regional Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 8, 2008 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Nacogdoches, Texas · Al Mangham Jr Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N8485R · no longer on the register · serial 28-22395
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After an hour of conducting flight maneuvers, the pilot and flight instructor proceeded to do a power-off landing. During the take-off from the runway, the engine lost partial power, and when it appeared that they would not be able to clear trees, they elected to conduct a forced landing. An inspection of the airplane, revealed that during the forced landing the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. After the aircraft was recovered to a hangar an examination/engine run was conducted. During the engine run, the magneto check was "good"; however, when the carburetor heat control was pulled, the engine started to run rough and lose power. The reason for the loss of engine power was not identified.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during initial climb
- Loss of engine power (partial) during initial climb defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Malfunction
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Ability to respond/compensate
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › (general) › Ability to respond/compensate
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,320 hours in all; 120 in this make and model; 65 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 1,430 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 1, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,955 hours in all; 75 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 2,639 as pilot in command; 556 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 10, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 3, 2008
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Nacogdoches TX at 4:00 pm
- Destination: Nacogdoches TX
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 18, 5,000 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 10 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 3:15 pm from KOCH
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.