Piper PA-28-181 accident near Austin, Texas, July 9, 1985
On July 9, 1985 at about 9:03 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N8203D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Austin, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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 9, 1985 · about 9:03 pm local time
- Place
- Austin, Texas
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N8203D · registry record · serial 28-8290120
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ENG FAILED AT ABOUT 2000 FT MSL WHILE THE ACFT WAS CLIMBING TO CRUISE FLT. THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO TURN BACK TO THE ARPT BUT REALIZED IT WAS TOO FAR AWAY. THE PLT THEN MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A GRASS AREA ADJACENT TO A LARGE HWY AT ABOUT A 45 DEG ANGLE TO THE ROAD. THE ACFT CROSSED AN ACCESS ROAD, TWO TRAFFIC LANES OF THE MAIN HWY, THE MEDIAN STRIP, AND CAME TO REST AFTER ENTERING THE TWO OPPOSITE TRAFFIC LANES WHERE A VEHICLE CONTACTED ITS RIGHT WING AND KNOCKED IT OFF THE ACFT. THE VEHICLE RECEIVED MINOR DAMAGE AND ITS TWO OCCUPANTS, ALONG WITH THE PLT, RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. POSTACCIDENT RUN-UP OF THE ENG FAILED TO DISCLOSE ANY MECHANICAL FAILURE/MALFUNCTION.
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: 84 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 54 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AUS Austin TX at 8:00 pm
- Destination: F26 Plano TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from AUS, 4 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.