Piper PA-28-161 accident near Killeen, Texas, October 14, 1985
On October 14, 1985 at about 3:40 am local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N84691, was substantially damaged in an accident near Killeen, Texas (Killeen Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 3 people 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 14, 1985 · about 3:40 am local time
- Place
- Killeen, Texas · Killeen Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N84691 · no longer on the register · serial 28-82-16067
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STOPPED ENROUTE TO REFUEL. FUEL SERVICE AT THE AIRPORT AND ALREADY CLOSED FOR THE NIGHT SO THE PILOT DRAINED ABOUT 10 GALLONS OF FUEL INTO HIS AIRPLANE FROM A PARKED CESSNA AIRPLANE AND DEPARTED FOR HIS DESTINATION. HOWEVER, THIS AMOUNT OF FUEL WAS SLIGHTLY LESS THAN THAT WHICH WAS NEEDED TO REACH HIS DESTINATION AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED OVER A HEAVILY WOODED AREA AND WAS SLOWED TO ABOUT 45-50 KNOTS, AND JUST BEFORE IMPACT THE CONTROL YOKE WAS PULLED FULLY REARWARD AND HELD IN THAT POSITION IN AN EFFORT TO HELP REDUCE THE FORCES OF IMPACT.
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: 78 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 70 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,240 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 8, 1985; 78 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: F41 Ennis TX at 2:45 am
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 17, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 150° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:40 am from ILE, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 3 |
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.