Amateur-built TIGER BIRD accident near Kerrville, Texas, September 14, 1985
On September 14, 1985 at about 9:00 pm local time, a amateur-built TIGER BIRD, registered N5MF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kerrville, Texas (Yo Ranch airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 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
- September 14, 1985 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Kerrville, Texas · Yo Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built TIGER BIRD
- Registration
- N5MF · registry record
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT NOSED OVER ON LANDING FOLLOWING A LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE PLT REPORTED TOUCHDOWN WAS MADE ON THE FIRST 100 FT OF THE RWY AND AS THE ACFT SLOWED TO APRX 10 MPH DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST. THE ACFT TRAVELED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE AIRSTRIP AND DOWN A 5 FT, 45 DEG BANK WHERE IT NOSED OVER. THE PLT ATTRIBUTED THE ACCIDENT TO THE X-WIND, GRAVEL AIRSTRIP AND POOR JUDGEMENT.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all; 743 in this make and model; 3,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 743 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, March 1, 1985; 33 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-C4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2 Alvin TX at 8:00 pm
- Destination: Kerrville TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 84°F (29°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.