Aermacchi Bosbok AM 3-C accident near Marfa, Texas, May 31, 2005
On May 31, 2005, a Aermacchi Bosbok AM 3-C, registered N8ME, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marfa, Texas. 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 pilot's failure to attain adequate airspeed, and his premature liftoff resulting in a loss of directional control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 31, 2005
- Place
- Marfa, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aermacchi Bosbok AM 3-C
- Registration
- N8ME · registry record · serial 2009
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The 5,855-hour private pilot lost directional control on takeoff and struck a visual approach slope indicator (VASI) light with the left stabilizer/elevator. The pilot reported: "I believe the cause of the accident was pilot error. High density altitude and lifting the tail too soon without attaining enough airspeed."
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,855 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 72 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming GSO-480-B1B3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MRF Marfa TX
- Destination: ERV Kerrville TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N8ME the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.