Amateur-built A4-C accident near Midland, Texas, July 20, 1986
On July 20, 1986 at about 9:00 pm local time, a amateur-built A4-C, registered N846V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Midland, Texas (Midland airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Midland, Texas · Midland
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built A4-C
- Registration
- N846V · registry record · serial 509
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE ENCOUNTERED SEVERE WINDSHEAR ON APPROACH TO LANDING AT THE RYAN AERODROM AIRPORT. HE APPLIED FULL POWER AND PULLED THE NOSE UP TO THE BEST ANGLE OF CLIMB ATTITUDE, HOWEVER HE COULD NOT ARREST THE SINK RATE AND HIT THE RUNWAY IN A SLIGHTLY NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE AIRCRAFT PROPELLER CONTACTED THE RUNWAY AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER INTO THE INVERTED POSITION. TO HIS KNOWLEDGE THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT STALL. THERE WERE NO REPORTS OF WIND GUSTS IN THE AREA AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. DURING A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH THE AIRPORT MANAGER AT THE RYAN AERODROM AIRPORT ON 7-21-86, THE PILOT WOULD OFTEN BUZZ THE AIRPORT TO CLEAR AWAY ANY ANIMALS BEFORE LANDING AND THOUGHT PERHAPS THE PILOT HAD NOT ALLOWED ADEQUATE ALTITUDE.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,000 hours in all; 75 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 3,814 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 76 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 7, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 728 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-40 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,650 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:35 pm from MAF, 5 miles away
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.