Piper PA-28RT-201T accident near Sonora, Texas, July 7, 1991
On July 7, 1991 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28RT-201T, registered N83165, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sonora, Texas (Whitehead Ranch airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER AIRCRAFT CONTROL DURING THE TAKEOFF GROUND RUN. FACTORS WERE THE DENSITY ALTITUDE AND THE ROUGH TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 7, 1991 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Sonora, Texas · Whitehead Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28RT-201T PA-28RT-20 · all PA-28RT-201Ts on the register
- Registration
- N83165 · no longer on the register · serial 28R8131052
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO TAKEOFF FROM A ROUGH, DOWNHILL AIRSTRIP ON A PRIVATE RANCH WHEN THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A CATTLE FENCE, BUSHES, AND A DIRT EMBANKMENT. THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. NUMEROUS GROUND SCRAPE MARKS WERE OBSERVED ON THE GROUND ALONG THE AIRPLANE'S DEPARTURE PATH. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS REPORTED TO BE 5,000 FEET. THE PILOT WAS FLYING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT POSITION WITH HIS SON IN THE LEFT FRONT SEAT. THE PILOT STATED, 'AT THE POINT OF GO/NO-GO, WE HAD TO CONTINUE AS WE COULD NOT GET STOPPED IN THAT DISTANCE.' NO MECHANICAL ANOMALIES WERE FOUND TO ANY AIRPLANE SYSTEM.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,819 hours in all; 163 in this make and model; 92 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 1,800 as pilot in command; 1,600 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-FB1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: T02 Friendswood TX
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 36, 3,500 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N83165 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.