Piper PA-23 accident near Comfort, Texas, November 25, 1983
On November 25, 1983 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-23, registered N215EC, was destroyed in an accident near Comfort, Texas (Quiet Valley airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. 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
- November 25, 1983 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Comfort, Texas · Quiet Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23 · all PA-23s on the register
- Registration
- N215EC · no longer on the register · serial 23-1178
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES STATED THAT THE ACFT BARELY CLEARED TREES AT THE END OF THE ARPT & THAT SMOKE WAS SEEN TRAILING FROM THE RIGHTENG. THE ACFT ENTERED A RIGHT TURN, STALLED & IMPACTED A RIDGE IN A STEEP, NEAR VERTICALLY BANKED DIVE. TEARDOWNS OF BOTH ENGS & BOTH PROPS REVEALED NO MECHANICAL EVIDENCE OF MALFUNCTION. HOWEVER, POST-IMPACT FIRE HAD PREVENTED THOROUGH EXAMINATIONS OF THE FUEL, IGNITION & INDUCTION SYSTEMS.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 20, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: Fredricksburg TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 1,950 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.