Piper PA-34-200T accident near Austin, Texas, May 22, 1987
On May 22, 1987 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-34-200T, registered N3980X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Austin, Texas (Robert Mueller 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
- May 22, 1987 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Austin, Texas · Robert Mueller
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-34-200T · all PA-34-200Ts on the register
- Registration
- N3980X · no longer on the register · serial 347670013
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO RETRACT THE LANDING GEAR AFTER TAKEOFF. THE PLT ELECTED TO RETURN TO THE ARPT AND PERFORM A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. THE TOUCHDOWN WAS NORMAL FOLLOWED BY THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSING DURING THE LANDING ROLL. THE ACFT HAD UNDERGONE AN ANNUAL INSPECTION 3 FLT HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE ANNUAL INSPECTION INCLUDED EXTENSIVE MAINTENANCE ON THE LANDING GEAR SYSTEM. ONE BOLT WAS FOUND TO BE MISSING FROM THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR ASSEMBLY.
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: 2,853 hours in all; 175 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 2,071 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,807 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 8, 1987; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,570 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: LBB Lubbock TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 17, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:15 pm from AUS
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.