Piper PA-28-181 accident near Llano, Texas, August 17, 1985
On August 17, 1985 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N2217G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Llano, Texas (Llano Muni airport). 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
- August 17, 1985 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Llano, Texas · Llano Muni · map
- 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
- N2217G · no longer on the register · serial 28-7990209
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED HE ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AT 2000 FT FOR A LEFT DOWNWIND TO RWY 17. HE THEN REDUCED PWR TO 1700 RPM AND PLACED THE MIXTURE CONTROL INTO THE FULL RICH POSITION. HE ASSURED THAT CARBURETOR HEAT WAS OFF AND THEN STARTED HIS DESCENT. THE ENG THEN BEGAN TO LOSE PWR AND SPUTTER. THROTTLE OPERATION GAVE SURGES OF PWR. HE SWITCHED FUEL TANK POSITIONS BUT COULD NOT GET A RESTART. THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO STRETCH HIS GLIDE TO THE RWY BUT WAS UNABLE. THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN 200-300 YRDS SHORT OF THE RWY, COLLAPSED THE LANDING GEAR, BOUNCED AND CAME TO REST ABOUT 100 YRDS SHORT OF THE RWY. EXAMINATION BY FAA PERSONNEL REVEALED NO FUEL IN THE TANKS AND NO EVIDENCE OF AN AIRBORNE OR ON GROUND FUEL LEAK. AFTER RECOVERY OF THE WRECKAGE A FUEL SUPPLY WAS CONNECTED TO THE RIGHT HAND INLET OF THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE. THE ENG WAS STARTED AND NOTED TO BE CAPABLE OF NORMAL OPERATION.
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: 108 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 72 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,641 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 6, 1985; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ADS Dallas TX at 12:20 pm
- Destination: 3R9 Austin TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,200 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 155° at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.