The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Accidents · NTSB FTW88LA030 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Cessna 185 accident near Burnet, Texas, November 20, 1987

On November 20, 1987 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Cessna 185, registered N7370H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Burnet, Texas (Burnet Municipal airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
November 20, 1987 · about 9:15 pm local time
Place
Burnet, Texas · Burnet Municipal · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Cessna 185 · all 185s on the register
Registration
N7370H · no longer on the register · serial 18503376
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

DURING LANDING ROLL, THE AIRCRAFT DRIFTED TO THE LEFT OF THE RUNWAY CENTERLINE. WITNESSES THEN OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT VEER TO THE RIGHT AND GROUND LOOP COMING TO REST OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY. ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT THE STUDENT PLT HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL.

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: student
  • Ratings: single-engine land
  • Flight time: 6 hours in all
  • Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: left

The aircraft

  • Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
  • Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
  • Seats: 6
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Continental IO-470-F (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: T27 Burnet TX
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 19, 4,200 ft by 75 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 070° at 4 knots
  • Visibility: 20 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
  • Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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.