Cessna 305C accident near Stamford, Texas, July 20, 1986
On July 20, 1986 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Cessna 305C, registered N4493H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Stamford, Texas (Stamford airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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
- July 20, 1986 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Stamford, Texas · Stamford · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 305C · all 305Cs on the register
- Registration
- N4493H · registry record · serial 24529
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS RECEIVING INSTRUCTION ON TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS, IN A TAIL WHEEL EQUIPPED AIRCRAFT, WHEN HE LOST CONTROL ON TOUCHDOWN AND GROUND LOOPED THE AIRCRAFT. THE INSTRUCTOR WAS LATE WITH CORRECTIVE ACTION.
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: 131 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 77 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,374 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 19, 1986; 41 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,430 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-11 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ABI Abilene TX at 10:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,200 ft by 160 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 40,000 ft
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:51 pm from ABI, 55 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.