Piper PA-28-181 accident near Bridgeport, Texas, August 20, 1987
On August 20, 1987, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N6895J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bridgeport, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- August 20, 1987
- Place
- Bridgeport, Texas
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N6895J · no longer on the register · serial 28-7690423
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ENGINE QUIT DURING CRUISE FLIGHT AT 5500 FEET MSL BUT RESTARTED WHEN THE PILOT SWITCHED FUEL TANKS. HE THEN HEADED FOR THE NEAREST AIRPORT WHICH WAS AT BRIDGEPORT, TX. WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH FOR LANDING THE ENGINE STOPPED AGAIN AND WOULD NOT RESTART. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A HAY FIELD ABOUT A HALF MILE NORTH OF THE AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A LARGE BALE OF HAY DURING THE LANDING SEQUENCE. THE PILOT HAD OVERFLOWN HIS PLANNED ENROUTE REFUELING POINT DUE TO KNOWN AIRCRAFT STARTER PROBLEMS AND RELIANCE ON THE AIRCRAFT'S FUEL GAUGE READINGS WHEN HE REACHED THE PLANNED REFUELING POINT.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 169 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 126 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,199 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: B P Aero Club
The flight
- Departed from: FNL Fort Collins CO at 6:30 pm
- Destination: FTW Fort Worth TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.