Socata MS RALLYE 235C accident near Brenham, Texas, January 21, 1986
On January 21, 1986 at about 6:14 pm local time, a Socata MS RALLYE 235C, registered N355RA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Brenham, Texas (Brenham airport). It was a business 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
- January 21, 1986 · about 6:14 pm local time
- Place
- Brenham, Texas · Brenham · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Socata MS RALLYE 235C MS RALLYE
- Registration
- N355RA · no longer on the register · serial 13260
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE RIGHT FLAP PUSH ROD EXPERIENCED A PROGRESSIVE TYPE FAILURE FROM REPEATED EXCESSIVE FORCE BEING APPLIED BY THE FLAP DRIVE MOTOR. THE EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS CAUSED BY THE FLAP ROLLERS BEING NEGLECTED DURING MAINTENANCE TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY BECAME DRY AND SLID ON THE FLAP TRACK INSTEAD OF ROTATING. THE FLAP TRACK ALSO CONTAINED NOTICABLE WEAR ALTHOUGH THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS COMPLETED ONLY THREE MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE AIRCRAFT BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE DUE TO SPLIT FLAPS DURING THE FINAL PORTION OF ITS FINAL APPROACH FOR LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN BUT WAS VEERING LEFT. IN ORDER TO PREVENT A COLLISION WITH PARKED AIRCRAFT THE PILOT ADVANCED THE THROTTLE AND BECAME AIRBORNE. AFTER CLEARING THE PARKED AIRCRAFT THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A FORCED LANDING WHICH TERMINATED IN A GROUP OF TREES ON THE EDGE OF THE AIRPORT.
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: 440 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 407 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 193 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 16, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 2,645 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Benchley TX at 5:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 4,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.