Universal Stinson 108 accident near Emhouse, Texas, March 17, 1985
On March 17, 1985 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Universal Stinson 108, registered N953D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Emhouse, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was 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
- March 17, 1985 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Emhouse, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Universal Stinson 108 · all 108s on the register
- Registration
- N953D · no longer on the register · serial 1082953
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES OBSERVED THE STUDENT PLT MAKING REPEATED LOW PASSES NEAR HIS FRIEND'S HOUSE. WHILE MANEUVERING, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A POWER LINE, THEN CRASHED TO THE GROUND INVERTED. THE STUDENT HELD A STUDENT PLT CERTIFICATE THAT WAS DATED 10/17/62. NO RECORD COULD BE FOUND OF A REISSUED CERTIFICATE. THE LAST RECORD OF A MEDICAL (3RD CLASS) WAS DATED 10/8/62. THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTIONS OF THE ACFT & ENG WERE DATED 7/18/81. DURING AN EXAM OF THE ACFT, NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR 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
- Medical certificate: Unknown (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A4-165B3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8FO Corsicana TX at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.