Piper PA-28-140 accident near Bastrop, Texas, February 20, 1984
On February 20, 1984 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N15043, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bastrop, Texas. It was a personal 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
- February 20, 1984 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Bastrop, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N15043 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7225565
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE PLT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE DEFROST VENT. AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS MADE ON A LOCAL HIGHWAY. EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE EXHAUST PIPE WAS DISCONNECTED FROM THE MUFFLER AND THE HOT GASES MELTED A ROCKER BOX OIL DRAIN LINE. THE OIL IGNITED AND BURNED THE MAGNETO 'P' LEAD WIRES WHICH CAUSED A TOTALENGINE FAILURE. PIPER AD 70-16-05 ADDRESSES THIS PROBLEM IN EARLIER MODEL ACFT. AN ATTEMPT IS BEING MADE BY FAA TO INCLUDE LATER MODEL ACFT IN THE AD.
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: 103 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 69 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,242 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 4, 1983; 42 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire in flight and on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: F13 Jacksonville FL
- Destination: PEZ Pleasanton TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 6
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,800 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:47 pm from AUS, 30 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.
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.