Piper PA-28-161 accident near Midland, Texas, July 23, 1992
On July 23, 1992 at about 5:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N84102, was destroyed in an accident near Midland, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A LOSS OF CONTROL FOR REASONS UNDETERMINED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 23, 1992 · about 5:50 pm local time
- Place
- Midland, Texas
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N84102 · no longer on the register · serial 28-8116265
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A LOCAL AREA FLIGHT THE AIRPLANE INITIALLY CONDUCTED A SERIES OF TOUCH-AND-GO LANDINGS. AFTER THE FOURTH LANDING THE PILOT DEPARTED THE AIRPORT. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE MANEUVERING APPROXIMATELY 60 FT ABOVE THE GROUND ACROSS A SECTION OF A GOLF COURSE. AFTER THE OBSERVED LOW LEVEL MANEUVERS, THE AIRPLANE WAS SEEN TO GAIN ALTITUDE MOMENTARILY AND BANK TO THE RIGHT AN ESTIMATED 80 DEG AND DESCEND INTO A GROVE OF TREES. DURING THE AUTOPSY THE PATHOLOGIST DETERMINED THAT THE PILOT EXHIBITED EVIDENCE OF SIGNIFICANT CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE AND OF AT LEAST TWO PAST HEART ATTACKS.
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: 1,000 hours in all; 52 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,663 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 30, 1992; 39 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: West Texas Gas INC
The flight
- Departed from: MDD at 5:30 pm
- Destination: MDD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,200 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from MAF, 7 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.