Piper PA-36-300 accident near Fluvanna, Texas, October 25, 1985
On October 25, 1985 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-36-300, registered N3671E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fluvanna, Texas. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- October 25, 1985 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Fluvanna, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-36-300 · all PA-36-300s on the register
- Registration
- N3671E · no longer on the register · serial 367860029
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CONTACTED A CATTLE GUARD DURING AN ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF FOR AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLT. THE PLT REPORTED THE ACFT WAS OVERLOADED FOR THE LENGTH OF RWY BEING USED FOR THE TAKEOFF. HE CONTINUED TO REPORT HE WAS TOO LATE IN DUMPING THE CHEMICAL LOAD. THE PLT REPORTED THAT BECAUSE OF SEVERAL PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED DURING THE DAY, STRESS WAS A MAJOR FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.
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 land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,569 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 155 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 732 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 1985; 82 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,400 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-KIG5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 06 Fluvanna TX at 11:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.