Amateur-built PJ 260 accident near Hereford, Texas, December 25, 1989
On December 25, 1989 at about 11:15 pm local time, a amateur-built PJ 260, registered N260LP, was destroyed in an accident near Hereford, Texas (Paetzold airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE OBSTACLE CLEARANCE ON THE APPROACH TO LANDING. A FACTOR WAS THE POWER POLE JUST SHORT OF THE END OF THE RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 25, 1989 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Hereford, Texas · Paetzold · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built PJ 260
- Registration
- N260LP · registry record · serial 30
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT WAS APPROACHING TO LAND AT A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP THAT HAD POWER POLES ALONG THE APPROACH PATH. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD MISJUDGED THE OBSTACLE CLEARANCE AND THOUGHT HE HAD PASSED THE LAST OF THE POLES WHEN HE INITIATED A DESCENT TO THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A 30 FOOT POWER POLE LOCATED JUST PRIOR TO THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE THEN DESCENDED IN AN ESTIMATED 60 DEGREE NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE TO TERRAIN IMPACT.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,500 hours in all; 55 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 50 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 8, 1989; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,498 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-470-S (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 10:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 3,000 ft by 40 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:52 pm from AMA, 40 miles away
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.