Piper PA-22 accident near Austin, Texas, June 10, 1989
On June 10, 1989 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-22, registered N655A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Austin, Texas (Austin Bird'S Nest airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE AIRCRAFT BRAKE SYSTEM. FACTORS INCLUDE HIGH TAIL WIND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 10, 1989 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Austin, Texas · Austin Bird'S Nest
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22 · all PA-22s on the register
- Registration
- N655A · registry record · serial 22-58
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT EXECUTED A DOWNWIND LANDING WITH APPROXIMATELY 20 KNOTS OF TAILWIND AND EXPERIENCED A TOTAL FAILURE OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE AIRCRAFT OVERRAN THE RUNWAY AND NOSED OVER AT THE DEPARTURE END.
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: 110 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 80 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,400 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 100 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AUS Austin TX at 7:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 2,715 ft by 25 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.