Piper PA 32R accident near Alpine, Texas, May 15, 2016
On May 15, 2016 at about 7:30 pm local time, a 1979 Piper PA 32R, registered N185DX, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Alpine, Texas (Alpine-Casparis Municipal Airp airport). It was a personal 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 engine’s decreased performance due to high-density altitude conditions and a partially obstructed fuel injector nozzle. Contributing to the pilot's decision to perform an off-field landing was the anomalous high exhaust gas temperature reading.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 15, 2016 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Alpine, Texas · Alpine-Casparis Municipal Airp · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 32R 301, built 1979 · all PA 32Rs on the register
- Registration
- N185DX · registry record · serial 32R-8013039
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot and passenger had just departed for a personal flight. The pilot reported that the takeoff roll required "a good bit of runway." The pilot reported that, during the initial climb, he noted that the exhaust gas temperature (EGT) was "pegged," so he reversed course to return to the airport. He was not able to find a "responsive power setting" and adjusted the mixture in attempt to cool the engine. The pilot attempted to troubleshoot the high EGT without result, and he subsequently conducted a precautionary off-field, gear-up landing, during which the right wing and fuselage sustained substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the No. 6 fuel injector nozzle was partially obstructed. It is likely that the partially obstructed fuel injector nozzle and the high-density altitude, which was calculated to be 5,750 ft at the time of the accident, resulted in less-than-expected engine performance. During a postaccident engine run, the engine ran normally; however, the EGT was providing anomalous indications. Therefore, the information provided to the pilot by the EGT during the flight was likely anomalous; however, the pilot had no way of knowing this, and it likely contributed to his decision to perform an off-field landing. The decreased engine performance was not supported by any of the other engine gauges.
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 defining event
- Engine shutdown during initial climb
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Indicating/recording systems › Indep instrument (clock, etc) › Malfunction
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Climb rate › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › High density altitude › Effect on operation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel injector nozzle › Related operating info
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,257 hours in all; 275 in this make and model; 75 in the last 30 days; 2,200 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 16, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,611.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 2, 2015
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K165D (piston); 1,734 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: E38 Alpine TX at 7:25 pm
- Destination: RBO Robstown TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 7:35 pm from E38, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
1 document, released by the NTSB on September 6, 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, 9 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.