Amateur-built FOXTROT 4 accident near Abilene, Texas, August 31, 2014
On August 31, 2014 at about 11:34 pm local time, a 2014 amateur-built FOXTROT 4, registered N729AR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Abilene, Texas (Abilene Regional airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed, 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's decision to attempt a steep turn to return to the airport after reporting an emergency. The reason for the emergency could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 31, 2014 · about 11:34 pm local time
- Place
- Abilene, Texas · Abilene Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed, 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built FOXTROT 4, built 2014
- Registration
- N729AR · registry record · serial F-008
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane had departed to the south for a short local flight. When it was about 400 ft above ground level, the pilot declared an emergency and reported to the tower controller that he needed to return to the airport. Witnesses saw the southbound airplane in a steep left bank and then descend into the trees. Evidence at the scene showed that the airplane was moving to the north-northwest when it impacted trees and terrain in a slightly nose-down, right-wing-low attitude. The impact resulted in the complete separation of the wing from the fuselage, and the complete separation of the forward fuselage, engine and propeller. All three adult occupants were ejected or partially ejected. The fourth occupant, a child restrained by a 4-point child safety seat in a rear seating position, sustained minor injuries and was removed from the wreckage by emergency responders shortly after the crash. Both fuel tanks were breached, fuel spilled from the tanks, but there was no postimpact fire. The examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The reason for the emergency reported by the pilot could not be determined. Flat, cultivated agricultural fields south of the accident location would have provided a more suitable emergency landing area rather than to attempt a steep turn to return to the airport.
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
- Unknown or undetermined during unknown defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
- Roll over during post (impact)
- Part(s) separation from AC during post (impact)
- Cabin safety event during post (impact)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action selection › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Climb capability › Not attained/maintained
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,594 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 38 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: October 5, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 53 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, June 10, 2014; 53 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1H5 (piston); 1,498 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ABI Abilene TX at 11:33 pm
- Destination: ABI Abilene TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17R, 7,203 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 10:52 pm from KABI, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 | 1 |
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.