Funk, D.D. Aviation Co. B85C accident near San Antonio, Texas, October 26, 1989
On October 26, 1989 at about 8:50 pm local time, a Funk, D.D. Aviation Co. B85C, registered N77707, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Antonio, Texas (San Antonio Horizon 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
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL. THE UNFAVORABLE/GUSTY WIND CONDITION WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 26, 1989 · about 8:50 pm local time
- Place
- San Antonio, Texas · San Antonio Horizon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Funk, D.D. Aviation Co. B85C
- Registration
- N77707 · registry record · serial 337
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHEN THE PILOT TOOK OFF, THERE WERE NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS & RAINSHOWERS IN THE AREA. TOWERING CUMULUS CLOUDS WERE REPORTED IN ALL QUADRANTS & THE WIND WAS REPORTED TO BE GUSTING TO 25 KTS. AFTER DEPARTING FROM RUNWAY 16, THE PILOT MADE RIGHT TURNS TO THE NORTH & BEGAN A CLIMB. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE ACFT WAS CLIMBING IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE WHEN IT ENTERED A DESCENT & CRASHED. IMPACT OCCURRED JUST WEST OF THE ARPT. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND.
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: 385 hours in all; 12 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,515 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 20, 1989; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-90-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 74R at 9:00 pm
- Destination: SSF
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from SAT, 12 miles away
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.