Piper PA-28-R accident near Mount Vernon, Texas, September 29, 1985
On September 29, 1985 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-R, registered N7554J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mount Vernon, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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 29, 1985 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Mount Vernon, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-R · all PA-28-Rs on the register
- Registration
- N7554J · no longer on the register · serial PA2830930
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED HE RAN OUT OF GAS MANEUVERING UNDER AN OVERCAST TO FIND A SUITABLE LANDING SITE. HE HAD ATTEMPTED TO CIRCUMNAVIGATE A LARGE AREA OF SEVERE WEATHER BUT EXHAUSTED HIS FUEL SUPPLY. HE STATED THAT THE ENGINE QUIT AND HE STALLED THE AIRCRAFT AT TREE TOP LEVEL. GROUND IMPACT WAS ATTENUATED BY THE TREES. THE ACCIDENT WAS WITNESSED BY A PATROLMAN, AND RESCUE WAS ALMOST IMMEDIATE.
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: 405 hours in all; 301 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 320 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,426 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 18, 1985; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming I0360 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BMT Beaumont TX at 3:30 pm
- Destination: Clarksville AR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 700 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from DAL, 85 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.