Thorp Aero, Inc. 211 accident near Liberty, Texas, August 3, 1986
On August 3, 1986 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Thorp Aero, Inc. 211, registered N29754, was substantially damaged in an accident near Liberty, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- August 3, 1986 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Liberty, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Thorp Aero, Inc. 211
- Registration
- N29754 · no longer on the register · serial 010
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A DITCH WHICH SHEARED THE NOSE GEAR DURING A FORCED LANDING. THE PLT SAID HE HAD ONLY FLOWN ABOUT 30 MINUTES SINCE REFUELING AND SUSPECTED A FUEL PROBLEM. HE STATED THAT HE HAD CHECKED FOR WATER & CONTAMINENTS DURING PRE-FLT BUT FOUND NONE. AFTER THE ENG SUDDENLY QUIT IN FLT HE UNSUCCESSFULLY USED HEAT AND CHECKED IGNITION (MAGS ON), IN AN ATTEMPT TO RESTART THE ENG. DURING FORCED LANDING IN A HAY FIELD THE ACFT STRUCK A DITCH.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,483 hours in all; 80 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 825 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 2, 1986; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,270 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 9X52 Porter TX at 8:00 pm
- Destination: BTR Baton Rouge LA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 106°F (41°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.