Cessna 172M accident near Mcallen, Texas, January 23, 1986
On January 23, 1986 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N20889, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mcallen, Texas (Miller International Arpt airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
- January 23, 1986 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Mcallen, Texas · Miller International Arpt · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N20889 · no longer on the register · serial 17263866
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED INTO TWO TREES DURING A FORCED LANDING AFTER THE ENG LOST PWR. THE PLT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF LNDG AT AN ARPT WHEN THE CONTROLLER ASKED HIM TO MAKE A 360 TURN BECAUSE OF TRAFFIC AND TO USE RWY 13 INSTEAD OF 18. AS THE PLT TURNED RT FOR A NEW BASE LEG THE ENG STOPPED. THE PLT NEVER ADVISED THE TWR OF A LOW FUEL STATE OR ASKED FOR EMERGENCY PRIORITY LNDG. THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENG AND LNDED IN A WOODED AREA. THE CRASH RUPTURED THE FUEL LINES BUT THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL SPILLAGE OR FUEL IN ANY OF THE ACFT TANKS.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,244 hours in all; 190 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,265 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 13, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-320-EZD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Rancho Tancasiv TX at 10:15 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 13, 7,103 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 090° at 9 knots
- Sky: broken clouds; scat
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from MFE, 1 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.