Piper PA-28-140 accident near Falfurrias, Texas, August 11, 1985
On August 11, 1985 at about 3:30 am local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N1020D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Falfurrias, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 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
- August 11, 1985 · about 3:30 am local time
- Place
- Falfurrias, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N1020D · registry record · serial 28-7425251
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT EXPERIENCED IN-FLT DIRECTIONAL GYRO PROBLEMS (EXESSIVE PRECESSING) WHICH RESULTED IN LARGE DEVIATIONS ON EITHER SIDE OF HIS PLANNING FLT PATH. AFTER REALIZING IT WAS INACCURATE HE CONTINUED USING IT FOR SOME OF HIS HEADING INFO. THE ACFT CONTINUED TO 'WANDER' UNTIL FUEL EXHAUSTION OCCURRED. THE ACFT WAS THEN FORCE LANDED ON A SMALL RANCH ROAD DURING THE HOURS OF DARKNESS WITH THE AID OF ITS LANDING LIGHT.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,053 hours in all; 65 in this make and model; 97 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,737 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 4, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CLL College Station TX at 11:15 pm
- Destination: T31 Port Isabel TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.