Amateur-built LONG-EZ accident near Cedar Hill, Texas, June 14, 1986
On June 14, 1986 at about 11:29 pm local time, a amateur-built LONG-EZ, registered N23RY, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cedar Hill, 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 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
- June 14, 1986 · about 11:29 pm local time
- Place
- Cedar Hill, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built LONG-EZ
- Registration
- N23RY · no longer on the register · serial 1623
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AND LEVELING OFF AT 3000 FT MSL, THE PLT SWITCHED FUEL TANKS. APRX 20 MINUTES INTO THE FLT A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WAS EXPERIENCED. THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN A FIELD; HOWEVER, THE ACFT CONTACTED POWER LINES DURING THE DESCENT. CONTROL OF THE ACFT WAS LOST AND THE ACFT CONTACTED THE TERRAIN IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE, COMING TO REST INVERTED. THE ENGINE WAS TESTED AND OPERATED NORMALLY AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE ONLY DISCREPANCY NOTED WAS THE FINGER TIGHT FUEL LINE FITTINGS AT THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE. HOWEVER, IT WAS NOT DETERMINED IF THE FITTINGS WERE LOOSE PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. DURING THE TEST THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE WAS BYPASSED DUE TO BROKEN FUEL LINES. THEREFORE, IT WAS NOT DETERMINED WHETHER OR NOT THE LOOSE FITTINGS WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF POWER EXPERIENCED.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,800 hours in all; 170 in this make and model; 280 in the last 90 days; 9,250 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 170 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, May 1, 1986; 170 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,425 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CNW Waco TX at 11:00 pm
- Destination: ADS Addison TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.