Piper PA-23-150 accident near Georgetown, Texas, July 13, 1986
On July 13, 1986 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-23-150, registered N2155P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Georgetown, Texas (Georgetown airport). It was an instructional 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
- July 13, 1986 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Georgetown, Texas · Georgetown · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-150 · all PA-23-150s on the register
- Registration
- N2155P · registry record · serial 23-757
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT WAS INSTRUCTING HIS STUDENT PILOT IN AN ENGINE SHUTDOWN FOR A MULTI-ENGINE INSTRUCTOR RATING, AFTER WHICH THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE INSTRUCTOR DECIDED TO LAND AT THE CLOSEST AIRPORT. WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH ANOTHER AIRCRAFT LANDED ON THE RUNWAY AND DID NOT CLEAR THE RUNWAY WHEN ASKED TO DO SO. THE INSTRUCTOR ATTEMPTED A SINGLE ENGINE GO-AROUND WITH GEAR DOWN, BUT COULD NOT GAIN ENOUGH ALTITUDE OR AIRSPEED. THE INSTRUCTOR LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT, WHICH STARTED TO ROLL OVER HITTING THE LEFT WING FIRST AND THEN CARTWHEELING TO THE RIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED 75 FEET FROM THE END OF THE RUNWAY. FAA EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE STARTER DISCLOSED NO MECHANICAL FAILURE.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,283 hours in all; 38 in this make and model; 67 in the last 90 days; 4,397 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,716 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 3, 1986; 36 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ILE Killeen TX at 6:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 4,100 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:48 pm from AUS, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.