Piper PA-28RT-201T accident near Matagorda Is., Texas, March 31, 1985
On March 31, 1985 at about 1:02 am local time, a Piper PA-28RT-201T, registered N3562X, was destroyed in an accident near Matagorda Is., Texas (Matagorda Is. airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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
- March 31, 1985 · about 1:02 am local time
- Place
- Matagorda Is., Texas · Matagorda Is. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28RT-201T PA-28RT-20 · all PA-28RT-201Ts on the register
- Registration
- N3562X · no longer on the register · serial 28R8031033
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT EXECUTED A VFR GO-AROUND WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH DUE TO LIVESTOCK ON THE RUNWAY AND REPORTEDLY EXPERIENCED ENGINE POWER LOSS. THE AIRCRAFT MADE A FORCED LANDING ON THE BEACH AND FLIPPED INVERTED, COMING TO REST IN THE WATER ALONGSIDE THE BEACH. THE WRECKAGE HAS NOT BEEN RECOVERED FROM THE SALT WATER. REASON FOR ENGINE FAILURE IS UNKNOWN. THE PLT FAILED TO RETURN THE ACCIDENT REPORTING FORM WHICH WAS SENT TO HIM FOR COMPLIANCE, THEREFORE MUCH OF THE ACCIDENT INFORMATION IS NOT REPORTED/UNKNOWN.
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
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-FB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Austin TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 3,700 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:02 am from PSX, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.