Mitchell T-10R263 accident near Horizon City, Texas, May 9, 1984
On May 9, 1984, a Mitchell T-10R263 (ultralight), registered UNREG, was destroyed in an accident near Horizon City, Texas. It was an instructional flight under ultralight rules (Part 103). 2 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
- May 9, 1984
- Place
- Horizon City, Texas
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mitchell T-10R263
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register · serial 00117T10
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · ultralight rules (Part 103)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ULTRALIGHT DEPARTED WEST TEXAS ARPT AT ABOUT 1700 MDT FOR A LOCAL INSTRUCTIONAL FLT WITH 2 PERSONS ON BOARD. IT WAS LAST SEEN FLYING AT ABOUT 1800 MDT A SHORT DISTANCE WEST OF THE ARPT. WHEN IT DID NOT RETURN AT 2100 MDT, THE ARPT MANAGER NOTIFIED THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND A SEARCH RESULTED IN THE U.S. BORDER PATROL FINDING THE ACFT WRECKAGE AT2245 MDT. THE VEHICLE HAD CRASHED NOSE FIRST IN THE DESERT ABOUT 1 MILE FROM THE ARPT. NO FUEL WAS FOUND ON THE ACFT ANDTHERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF LEAKAGE. THE ARPT MANAGER SAID THE VEHICLE WAS REFUELED A DAY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT FROM A 5 GALLON CAN. THE VEHICLE HAS A TOTAL ENDURANCE OF 3 HOURS AND 20 MINUTES WHEN FULL OF FUEL. THIS VEHICLE HAD BEEN FLOWN 3TIMES SINCE REFUELING, THE LAST FLT LASTED AN HOUR OR MORE. AT THE ACCIDENT SCENE, THE WOODEN PROPELLER WAS UNDAMAGED AND NO PROPELLER STRIKES WERE NOTED ON THE VEHICLE STRUCTURE.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 13,500 hours in all; 10 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Kawasaki TA446A-C203 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:00 am from ELP, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
Other NTSB records under UNREG 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.