Amateur-built MURPHY SPIRIT accident near Livingston, Texas, April 26, 2015
On April 26, 2015 at about 3:00 pm local time, a 1989 amateur-built MURPHY SPIRIT, registered N193MW, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern crosswind) near Livingston, Texas (Livingston Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which increased the induced drag and led to the engine having insufficient power to overcome the drag and climb the airplane and resulted in a forced landing and the subsequent collapse of the main landing gear.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 26, 2015 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Livingston, Texas · Livingston Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built MURPHY SPIRIT, built 1989
- Registration
- N193MW · no longer on the register · serial 0193
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot reported that, during a high-speed taxi test, the amateur-built tailwheel-equipped airplane unexpectedly became airborne. He chose to continue flight rather than risk an overrun while attempting to stop on the remaining runway. When the airplane crossed trees while in the traffic pattern, it experienced a "loss of lift," and the pilot subsequently executed a landing in a field parallel to the runway. During the landing, the main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane then skidded to a stop. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane and that the airplane and engine performed as expected. Based on the available information, it is likely that the pilot allowed the airspeed to decrease, which increased the induced drag and led to the engine not having sufficient power to overcome the drag and climb the airplane.
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
- Loss of lift during approach (VFR pattern crosswind) defining event
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Climb capability › Capability exceeded
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › (general) › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 450 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 0 in the last 90 days; 0 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, April 26, 2015; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,143 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Subaru E-81 (piston); 10 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 00R Livingston TX at 3:00 pm
- Destination: 00R Livingston TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 3,704 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.76 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 pm from K6R3, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
1 document, released by the NTSB on March 9, 2016. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.