Piper PA-28-161 accident near Bryan, Texas, August 20, 1983
On August 20, 1983 at about 5:51 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N8115L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bryan, Texas (Flight Test Station airport). It was an instructional 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 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
- August 20, 1983 · about 5:51 pm local time
- Place
- Bryan, Texas · Flight Test Station · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N8115L · registry record · serial 28-8016119
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PLT WAS ON A X-COUNTRY FLT TO THE COLLEGE STATION EASTERWOOD ARPT NEAR BRYAN, TX. WHEN HE ARRIVED IN THE VICINITY, HE SAW A NEARBY ARPT, THE TEXAS A&M FLT TEST STATION. HE STATED THAT AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME, THE ENG MISSED MOMENTARILY, 2 TIMES, THEN RAN SMOOTHLY. THE STUDENT REALIZED THAT THE TEST FACILITY WAS NOT HIS DESTINATION, BUT HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE ENG & ELECTED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. AFTER LANDING, HE TAXIED TO ARAMP AREA. WHILE TAXIING, HE REPORTEDLY ENCOUNTERED A GUST OF WIND WHICH CAUSED THE ACFT TO VEER & COLLIDE WITH A POLE. THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE WIND WAS GUSTING TO 13 KTS. NO ENG MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 58 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 16 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 4, 1982
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HOU Houston TX at 4:35 pm
- Destination: CLL College Station TX
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 17, 7,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds; scat
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:49 pm from CLL, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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 N8115L 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.