Piper PA-34-220T accident near Lubbock, Texas, December 20, 1986
On December 20, 1986 at about 10:09 pm local time, a Piper PA-34-220T, registered N8456X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lubbock, Texas (Lubbock Intl. airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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
- December 20, 1986 · about 10:09 pm local time
- Place
- Lubbock, Texas · Lubbock Intl. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-34-220T · all PA-34-220Ts on the register
- Registration
- N8456X · no longer on the register · serial 82-33013
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT AFTER A NORMAL APCH, HE MADE A HARD LANDING ON THE MAIN GEAR AND THE ACFT BOUNCED. HE FURTHER STATED THAT THE SECOND CONTACT WAS HARD ON THE MAIN GEAR AND THAT THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED WHEN IT TOUCHED DOWN THE 2ND TIME. DAMAGE SUSTAINED BY THE ACFT INDICATED THAT IT HAD LANDED HARD ON THE NOSE GEAR THE 2ND TIME, CAUSING THE NOSE GEAR TO COLLAPSE AS A RESULT OF OVERLOAD.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,674 hours in all; 440 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 1,615 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,050 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 26, 1986; 31 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,750 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-KB (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: West-Tex Aircraft, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: MAF Midland TX at 9:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17R, 11,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:49 pm from LBB
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.