Ryan PT-22 and Eagle Aircraft Co. PERFORMANCE accident near Kerrville, Texas, September 19, 1986
On September 19, 1986 at about 7:00 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Ryan PT-22 (N48331) and Eagle Aircraft Co. PERFORMANCE (UNREG), were involved in the same accident near Kerrville, Texas (Louis Schreiner airport). 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
- September 19, 1986 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Kerrville, Texas · Louis Schreiner · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Ryan PT-22
- Registration
- N48331 · no longer on the register · serial 1821
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Eagle Aircraft Co. PERFORMANCE PERFORMANC
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register · serial NONE
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · ultralight rules (Part 103)
The NTSB's narrative for the Ryan PT-22 final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ARRIVING FOR A 'FLY-IN' AT AN UNCONTROLLED ARPT, THE PLT OF A PT-22, N48331, TURNED ONTO FINAL APCH AFTER THE PLT OF A PRECEDING ACFT HAD TURNED OFF OF THE RWY. AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME, THE PLT OF AN UNREGISTERED ULTRALIGHT GYROCOPTER TAXIED ONTO THE RWY & BEGAN TAKING OFF. THE PT-22 PLT DID NOT SEE THE GYROCOPTER & CONTINUED HIS APCH. THE GYROCOPTER PLT STATED THAT HE HAD WAITED FOR OTHER ACFT TO LAND, THEN CHECKED FOR ACFT ON FINAL APCH, BUT DID NOT SEE ANY, SO HE TAXIED ONTO THE RWY & STARTED HIS TAKEOFF. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE TWO ACFT COLLIDED ABOUT 1500 FT DOWN THE RWY. THE COLLISION OCCURRED AS THE GYROCOPTER WAS JUST LIFTING OFF. THE PT-22 PLT COULD NOT SEE OVER THE NOSE OF HIS ACFT WHILE IT WAS ROLLING WITH THE TAILWHEEL ON THE GROUND.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Eagle Aircraft Co. PERFORMANCE final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ARRIVING FOR A 'FLY-ING' AT AN UNCONTROLLED ARPT, THE PLT OF A PT-22, N48331, TURNED ONTO FINAL APCH AFTER THE PLT OF A PRECEDING ACFT HAD TURNED OFF OF THE RWY. AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME, THE PLT OF AN UNREGISTERED ULTRALIGHT GYROCOPTER TAXIED ONTO THE RWY & BEGAN TAKING OFF. THE PT-22 PLT DID NOT SEE THE GYROCOPTER & CONTINUED HIS APCH. THE GYROCOPTER PLT STATED THAT HE HAD WAITED FOR OTHER ACFT TO LAND, THEN CHECKED FOR ACFT ON FINAL APCH, BUT DID NOT SEE ANY, SO HE TAXIED ONTO THE RWY & STARTED HIS TAKEOFF. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE TWO ACFT COLLIDED ABOUT 1500 FT DOWN THE RWY. THE COLLISION OCCURRED AS THE GYROCOPTER WAS JUST LIFTING OFF. THE PT-22 PLT COULD NOT SEE OVER THE NOSE OF HISACFT WHILE IT WAS ROLLING WITH THE TAILWHEEL ON THE GROUND.
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 for the Ryan PT-22 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 29,000 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,836 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 12, 1985; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,885 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Kinner R-56 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: F54 Arlington TX at 2:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 4,400 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Eagle Aircraft Co. PERFORMANCE from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Flight time: 104 hours in all
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 4,400 ft by 100 ft
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.