Piper PA-28-181 accident near Marlin, Texas, March 30, 1987
On March 30, 1987 at about 6:57 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N8191V, was destroyed in an accident near Marlin, Texas. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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
- March 30, 1987 · about 6:57 pm local time
- Place
- Marlin, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N8191V · registry record · serial 28-8090115
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN PIPELINE PATROL THROUGHOUT ITS HISTORY OF 7490 FLT HRS. JUST BEFORE THE ACDNT, THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED IN STRAIGHT & LVL FLT ALONG A PIPELINE RIGHT-OF-WAY. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE ACFT WAS AT LOW ALT WHEN A WING SEPARATED & THE ACFT PLUNGED TO THE GROUND. THE LEFT WING WAS FND 588' FROM THE MAIN WRECKAGE. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED IT HAD SEPD AT THE WING ROOT FROM FATIGUE FAILURE. THE FATIGUE HAD ORIGINATED NEAR ONE OF THE OUTBOARD CARRY-THROUGH ATTACHMENT BOLT HOLES.
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: 9,144 hours in all; 2,500 in this make and model; 352 in the last 90 days; 127 in the last 30 days; 7,630 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,490 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 15, 1986; 1,082 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Griffin Pipeline Patrol CO.
The flight
- Departed from: F18 Cleburne TX at 6:30 pm
- Destination: CXO Conroe TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 20 knots, gusting 27
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:30 pm from ACT, 15 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.