Amateur-built GLAS AIR SH2R accident near Ranger, Texas, February 17, 1986
On February 17, 1986, a amateur-built GLAS AIR SH2R, registered N9660N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ranger, Texas (Ranger Muni 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
- February 17, 1986
- Place
- Ranger, Texas · Ranger Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built GLAS AIR SH2R GLAS AIR S
- Registration
- N9660N · no longer on the register · serial 566
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT DRIFTED LEFT OFF THE RWY DURING TAKEOFF AND COLLIDED WITH TREES. THIS WAS A HOME BUILT ACFT THAT HAD JUST BEEN CERTIFIED. THE OWNER/BUILDER HAD MADE HIGH SPEED TAXI RUNS BUT DID NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE TO FLY IT. ANOTHER PLT WAS ASKED AND AFTER A SHORT TAXI AND RUN-UP THIS PLT ATTEMPTED TO FLY. HE LOST CONTRL AND CRASHED AFTER COLLIDING WITH THE TREE LINE TO THE LEFT OF THE RWY. THE OWNER/BUILDER SAID THAT THE POWER WAS APPLIED TOO RAPIDLY WITH TOO LITTLE RIGHT RUDDER APPLIED INITIALLY. BY THE TIME FULL RT RUDDER WAS APPLIED THE ACFT WAS GOING LEFT OFF THE RWY AND WAS PULLED OFF THE GROUND PREMATURELY TO TRY TO GET OVER THE TREE LINE. THIS WAS THE ACFTS MAIDEN FLT.
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
- Flight time: 1,450 hours in all; 10 in the last 90 days; 1,400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, February 16, 1986; 0 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 2,050 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 pm from FTW, 81 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.