Piper PA-32RT-300T accident near Brownsville, Texas, July 7, 1985
On July 7, 1985, a Piper PA-32RT-300T, registered N21698, was substantially damaged in an accident near Brownsville, Texas (Brownsville airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. 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
- July 7, 1985
- Place
- Brownsville, Texas · Brownsville · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32RT-300T PA-32RT-30 · all PA-32RT-300Ts on the register
- Registration
- N21698 · no longer on the register · serial 32R7887226
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE PRACTICING TOUCH-AND-GO LANDINGS THE PLT ALLOWED THE ACFT TO DESCEND BELOW THE PROPER GLIDE SLOPE WHILE ON FINAL APCH. THE ACFT IMPACTED A POWER LINE APRX 1000 FT SHORT OF THE RWY AND CRASHED ON THE SIDE OF A DRAINAGE DITCH LEVEE. THE ELEVATION OF THE LINE WAS ABOUT 10 FT ABOVE THE HEIGHT OF AND ACROSS THE ROAD FROM THE LEVEE. THE PLT REPORTEDLY DOES NOT REMEMBER ANYTHING AFTER PASSING THE ELEVATION OF 400 FT AGL.
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: 244 hours in all; 64 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 155 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 698 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-S1AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 6,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.