Piper PA-23-250 accident near Rio Hondo, Texas, May 21, 1986
On May 21, 1986, a Piper PA-23-250, registered N717WL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rio Hondo, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were 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
- May 21, 1986
- Place
- Rio Hondo, Texas
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-250 · all PA-23-250s on the register
- Registration
- N717WL · no longer on the register · serial 27-2513
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE RIGHT ENG FAILED DURING CRUISE FLT AND THE PLT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL IN HIS ATTEMPT TO RESTART THE ENG. THE ACFT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALT AND IMPACTED THE GROUND RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE ACFT. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY MALFUNCTION/FAILURE WHICH WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN THE ENG FAILURE, HOWEVER, LOW COMPRESSION WAS FOUND ON THREE OF THE CYLINDERS AND THE MAGNETOS WERE OUT OF TIMING.
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 sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,500 hours in all; 606 in this make and model; 310 in the last 90 days; 7,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,998 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 11, 1985; 137 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-C4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Brownsville TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 305° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:48 pm from BRO, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.