Amateur-built T-40 accident near Georgetown, Texas, September 24, 1988
On September 24, 1988 at about 4:30 pm local time, a amateur-built T-40, registered N187T, was destroyed in an accident near Georgetown, Texas (Kittie Hill airport). It was a personal 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 PILOT'S INABILITY TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF AN AIRCRAFT THAT HE HAD NEVER FLOWN BEFORE, AS WELL AS, HIS INABILITY TO APPLY REMEDIAL ACTION AS REQUIRED FOR THE FLIGHT REGIME.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 24, 1988 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Georgetown, Texas · Kittie Hill
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built T-40
- Registration
- N187T · registry record · serial 145
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE 70 YR OLD PLT WAS TAKING OFF FROM A TURF RWY ON HIS FIRST FLT IN THE HOME BUILT ACFT. IMMEDIATELY AFTER LIFT-OFF, THE ACFT WENT OUT OF CONTROL & IMPACTED TERRAIN NEXT TO THE RWY. THE WOODEN ACFT WAS EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED BY IMPACT. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL FAILURE OF THE ACFT, ENG OR CONTROL SYSTEMS WAS FOUND. WITNESSES RPRTD THE ACFT LIFTED OFF BEFORE IT WAS READY TO FLY.
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: 1,801 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 351 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, October 1, 1987; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 77T at 4:30 pm
- Destination: TIT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 3,250 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
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.