Piper PA-42 accident near Horseshoe Bay, Texas, February 7, 1987
On February 7, 1987 at about 2:40 pm local time, a Piper PA-42, registered N81SM, was destroyed in an accident near Horseshoe Bay, Texas (Horseshoe Bay airport). It was a business 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
- February 7, 1987 · about 2:40 pm local time
- Place
- Horseshoe Bay, Texas · Horseshoe Bay · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-42 · all PA-42s on the register
- Registration
- N81SM · registry record · serial 42-8001007
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT MADE A FAIRLY LONG TAXI FROM THE RAMP TO THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND THEN STARTED HIS TAKEOFF ROLL WITH THE PARKING BRAKE STILL PARTIALLY SET. THE BRAKES BECAME VERY HOT AND THE COMPONENT PARTS EXPANDED. AFTER ROLLING ALMOST 3,000 FEET THE BRAKES TIGHTENED UP TO THE EXTENT THAT BOTH MAIN GEAR TIRES STARTED LEAVING BLACK SKID MARKS WHICH CONTINUED UNTIL THE AIRCRAFT RAN OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY WITHOUT OBTAINING FLYING SPEED, A DISTANCE OF 3,168 FEET. IT WAS NOTED, THROUGH A DESIGN FEATURE OF THE AIRCRAFT, THAT THE PARKING BRAKE HANDLE COULD BE PLACED IN THE RELEASED POSITION WITHOUT THE BRAKE BEING RELEASED. HOWEVER, THIS WOULD GIVE THE APPEARANCE THAT IT HAD BEEN RELEASED. THE MAIN GEAR TIRES WERE WORN ALMOST SLICK DURING THIS ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF. BOTH MAIN GEAR BRAKES HAD BEEN OVERHEATED DURING THIS TIME TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY WERE DESTROYED. THE ACFT WAS DESTROYED BY COLLISION WITH TREES, ROCKS AND A FIRE HYDRANT AT THE BOTTOM OF A HILL OFF THE END OF THE RWY.
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: 3,670 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 43 in the last 90 days; 3,520 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,002 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, November 22, 1985; 33 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 11,200 lb
- Seats: 9
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W PT6A-41 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4R2 Horseshoe Bay TX at 2:39 pm
- Destination: AUS Austin TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:52 pm from AUS, 35 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.