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Accidents · NTSB FTW85LA218 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Cessna 421 accident near Mckinney, Texas, May 10, 1985

On May 10, 1985 at about 10:27 pm local time, a Cessna 421, registered N888K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mckinney, Texas (Aero Country airport). 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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
May 10, 1985 · about 10:27 pm local time · cases in 1985
Place
Mckinney, Texas · Aero Country · cases near this airport · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Cessna 421 · all 421s on the register
Registration
N888K · no longer on the register · serial 4210088
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

AFTER LANDING WHILE TAXIING ON THE RWY, THE ACFT'S NOSE WHEEL STARTED BOGGING DOWN IN SOFT ASPHALT ON THE RWY. THE SOFT ASPHALT WAS PUSHED ALONG IN FRONT OF THE WHEEL UNTIL IT CAUSED ENOUGH RESISTANCE TO OVERSTRESS THE NOSE GEAR CAUSING IT TO COLLAPSE. THE ACFT'S NOSE THEN IMPACTED THE RWY RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE ACFT. THE ASPHALT HAD NOT BEEN ROLLED/PACKED ENOUGH TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE SUBJECT ACFT.

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: 6,800 lb
  • Seats: 8
  • Landing gear: retractable
  • Engine: Continental GTSIO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
  • Operator: Km&D Energy INC.

The flight

  • Departed from: F26 Plano TX
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 17, 2,950 ft by 40 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 140° at 11 knots
  • Visibility: 10 statute miles
  • Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 4,000 ft
  • Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
  • Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
  • Observation at 10:51 pm from DAL, 35 miles away

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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.

Connections how this case links to the rest of the register

Aircraft
Place
Analytics

The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/FTW85LA218.json.

The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.

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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.