Piper PA-28-201T accident near Spicewood, Texas, April 18, 1983
On April 18, 1983 at about 10:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-201T, registered N2860N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Spicewood, Texas (Windermere Gliderport airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 18, 1983 · about 10:50 pm local time
- Place
- Spicewood, Texas · Windermere Gliderport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-201T · all PA-28-201Ts on the register
- Registration
- N2860N · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON THE LANDING ROLL, THE BRAKES FAILED & THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO STOP ON THE REMAINING RWY. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT HIT A METAL LIGHT POLE, THE NOSE GEAR WAS DAMAGED WHEN IT HIT A HOLE & THE LEFT WING STRUCK TREES. AN EXAM OF THE BRAKES REVEALED THAT THE LEFT BRAKE LININGS WERE WORN COMPLETELY AWAY, ALLOWING THE O-RING SEAL TO BE EXPOSED & FLUID TO ESCAPE. ALSO, THE RIGHT BRAKE HAD EXCESSIVE WERE. THE ACFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH LARGE WHEEL PANTS WHICH WOULD HAVE MADE THE BRAKE SYS HARD TO SEE DURING A PREFLT INSPECTION.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,038 hours in all; 59 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 984 as pilot in command; 11 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,275 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 3, 1983; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-FB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3R3 Austin TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 3,000 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:51 pm from AUS, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.