Amateur-built CASSUTT III-M accident near Burnet, Texas, July 7, 1987
On July 7, 1987 at about 10:40 pm local time, a amateur-built CASSUTT III-M, registered N3790A, suffered minor damage in an accident near Burnet, Texas (Kate Craddock Fld. airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- July 7, 1987 · about 10:40 pm local time
- Place
- Burnet, Texas · Kate Craddock Fld. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built CASSUTT III-M CASSUTT II
- Registration
- N3790A · no longer on the register · serial 200
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON JULY 7,1987, A CASSUTT 111M, N3790A, IMPACTED THE RUNWAY AT KATE CRADDOCK FIELD (T-27) BURNET TEXAS. THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING THE INITIAL TEST FLIGHT OF THE HOME BUILT AIRCRAFT WHEN THE CANOPY CAME OPEN. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND THE AIRCRAFT WHILE HOLDING THE CANOPY CLOSED. DUE TO AN APPARENT LACK OF AIRFLOW OVER THE TAIL OF THE AIRCRAFT THE AIRCRAFT WAS UNABLE TO FLARE FOR TOUCHDOWN. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE RUNWAY CAUSING MINOR DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. HOWEVER, THE PILOT SUFFERED SERIOUS INJURY.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 22,739 hours in all; 24 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 16,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 126 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 11, 1987; 19 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental 0200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 4,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 15 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 0°F (-18°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.