Pilatus B4PC11 accident near Bridgeport, Texas, October 17, 1988
On October 17, 1988 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Pilatus B4PC11 (glider), registered N8349, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bridgeport, Texas (Flying S Ranch airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- October 17, 1988 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Bridgeport, Texas · Flying S Ranch
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pilatus B4PC11 · all B4PC11s on the register
- Registration
- N8349 · registry record · serial 062
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE GLIDER WAS BEING TOW-LAUNCHED BY AN AUTOMOBILE FROM THE PILOT'S PRIVATE RANCH AIRSTRIP. WHEN THE GLIDER WAS APPROXIMATELY 250 FEET AGL, THE TOW ROPE SEPARATED AND THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO THE AIRSTRIP. A DOWNDRAFT MADE THIS IMPOSSIBLE AND THE PILOT ELECTED TO MUSH INTO A TREE LINE, RATHER THAN LAND IN A DEEP GULLY THAT WAS JUST SHORT OF THE AIRSTRIP. THE PLT HAD A LARGE RECENTLY MOWED HAY FIELD DIRECTLY AHEAD BEFORE TURNING.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 14,400 hours in all; 52 in this make and model; 144 in the last 90 days; 44 in the last 30 days; 12,700 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 445 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 3, 1987; 90 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 770 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Unknown UNKNOWN (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TX37 at 8:00 pm
- Destination: TX37
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 1,750 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.