Piper PA-28-181 accident near Westbrook, Texas, September 3, 1985
On September 3, 1985 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N8043C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Westbrook, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was 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
- September 3, 1985 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Westbrook, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N8043C · no longer on the register · serial 28-7690098
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THERE WERE NO KNOWN EYE WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT. AVAILABLE EVIDENCE REVEALS THAT THE PILOT MOST PROBABLY MADE A SUCCESSFUL LANDING IN THE REMOTELY LOCATED FIELD AND ROLLED TO A STOP. THE SHERIFF REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE OIL WAS DRAINED ONTO THE GROUND AT THIS POINT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS THEN TAXIED BACK 1300 FEET AND MADE ANOTHER TURN AND STOPPED. THE CONTROLWHEEL WAS FOUND TIED IN THE REAR POSITION WITH THE SEAT BELT. THE PILOT APPARENTLY CLIMBED ONTO THE LEFT WING, OPENED THE THROTTLE BY REACHING THROUGH THE OPENING CREATED BY THE MISSING LEFT COCKPIT WINDOW AND JUMPED OFF ONTO THE GROUND AND APPARENTLY WAS HIT WITH THE LEFT STABILATOR. THE AIRCRAFT TRAVELED ABOUT 50 YARDS BEFORE VEERING RIGHT INTO ROUGH TERRAIN AND STOPPED. THE PILOT REPORTEDLY CALLED THE MITCHELL COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, REPORTED THE ACCIDENT AND STATED THAT HE WAS INJURED. THE PHONE WHICH HE REPORTEDLY USED WAS LOCATED SEVERAL MILES FROM THE ACCIDENT SITE. THE PILOT THEN DISAPPEARED AND HIS WHEREABOUTS IS STILL UNKNOWN.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 8,675 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,584 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 10, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TX05 Mckinney TX at 11:45 am
- Destination: 21XS Big Spring TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 99°F (37°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.