Piper PA-28RT-201T accident near Fort Worth, Texas, June 30, 1985
On June 30, 1985 at about 2:30 am local time, a Piper PA-28RT-201T, registered N8473X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fort Worth, Texas (Meacham airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 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
- June 30, 1985 · about 2:30 am local time
- Place
- Fort Worth, Texas · Meacham · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 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
- N8473X · no longer on the register · serial 28R-8131184
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PLT WAS TAXIING TO PARKING RAMP/HANGAR AFTER LANDING AND FOLLOWING LINEMAN'S SIGNALS. HE TURNED OFF THE ANGLING TAXIWAY TOO SOON AND THE NOSE AND RIGHT MAIN GEARS FELL INTO A HOLE/LOW AREA OFF THE EDGE OF THE TAXIWAY. THE PROPELLER AND RIGHT WING STRUCK THE GROUND WITH RESULTING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PLT STATED HE SHOULD HAVE KEPT LANDING LIGHT ON TAXIWAY UNTIL CLEARING TAXIWAY INTERSECTION INSTEAD OF FOLLOWING LINEMAN'S INSTRUCTIONS.
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: 350 hours in all; 283 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 274 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,278 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 21, 1985; 205 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-FB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3R7 Jennings LA at 11:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 130° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.