Piper PA-28-235 accident near Yantis, Texas, October 31, 1985
On October 31, 1985 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-235, registered N9348W, was destroyed in an accident near Yantis, Texas. It was a ferry 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
- October 31, 1985 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Yantis, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-235 · all PA-28-235s on the register
- Registration
- N9348W · no longer on the register · serial 28-11035
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CONTACTED A TREE AND A LARGE BALE OF HAY DURING A FORCED LANDING FOLLOWING A LOSS OF PWR. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION DISCLOSED 18 GALLONS OF FUEL REMAINED IN THE LEFT MAIN TANK AND 3 GALLONS REMAINED IN THE LEFT WING TIP TANK.BOTH RIGHT WING FUEL TANKS WERE RUPTURED. A VERY SMALL AMOUNT OF FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL LINES AND THE FUEL STRAINER BOWL AT THE BOTTOM OF THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE WAS EMPTY. EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL SELECTOR REVEALED THE VALVE SEAT TO THERIGHT TIP TANK WAS COATED WITH DIRT AND DEBRIS PREVENTING THE VALVE FORM SEATING. THIS WOULD ALLOW THE ENG DRIVEN FUEL PUMP TO DRAW AIR WHEN THE RIGHT TIP TANK WAS EMPTIED.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 771 hours in all; 560 in this make and model; 69 in the last 90 days; 704 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 11, 1985; 56 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Miller Aircraft INC.
The flight
- Departed from: 3R3 Austin TX
- Destination: 3I7 Phillipsburg OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.