Piper PA-36-300 accident near Muleshoe, Texas, February 28, 1986
On February 28, 1986 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-36-300, registered N57878, was substantially damaged in an accident near Muleshoe, Texas (Locker Brothers airport). It was an aerial observation 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
- February 28, 1986 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Muleshoe, Texas · Locker Brothers · 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
- N57878 · no longer on the register · serial 367760043
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AG ACFT WAS CLIMBING AFTER A PASS TO CLEAR POWER LINES AT THE NORTH END OF THE FIELD. THE MAIN LNDG GEAR CONTACTED THE TOP WIRE AS THE ACFT STARTED LEVELING OFF. THE WIRE DID NOT BREAK AND THE ACFT DESCENDED TO GROUND IMPACT. THE LNDG GEAR SNAPPED OFF AND THE ACFT SLID ON ITS BELLY ABOUT 30 FT BEFORE STOPPING.
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: 2,213 hours in all; 1,138 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 2,106 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 14, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 4,400 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TI0-540-KIG5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: T37 Muleshoe TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.