Piper PA-24-250 accident near Terrell, Texas, October 31, 1985
On October 31, 1985 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N6393P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Terrell, Texas (Terrell airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- October 31, 1985 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Terrell, Texas · Terrell · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N6393P · registry record · serial 24-250
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT TRAVELED THROUGH A BARBED WIRE FENCE DURING A FORCED LANDING SHORT OF RWY 35 AT TERRELL ARPT. WHEN APRX 1 MILE FROM THE ARPT, THE ENG QUIT. THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO MOVE THE FUEL SELECTOR, HOWEVER, BY APPLYING A FULL RICH MIXTURE AND TURNING ON THE BOOST PUMP, THE PLT WAS ABLE TO REGAIN ENG PWR. AS THE TURN ONTO FINAL APCH WAS MADE THE ENG QUIT AGAIN. THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN 700 FT SHORT OF THE RWY. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS DISMANTLED AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND REWORKED IN ACCORDANCE WITH PIPER SERVICE BULLETIN NO. 354B.
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: 315 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 178 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 684 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 30, 1985; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1C5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DAL Dallas TX at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°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.