Cessna 175B accident near Sonora, Texas, June 21, 1994
On June 21, 1994 at about 1:50 am local time, a Cessna 175B, registered N8103T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sonora, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN OBSTACLE CLEARANCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 21, 1994 · about 1:50 am local time
- Place
- Sonora, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 175B · all 175Bs on the register
- Registration
- N8103T · no longer on the register · serial 17556803
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE AIRPORT AND FLEW TO A GAS PLANT 6 NAUTICAL MILES TO THE SOUTH. A WITNESS AT THE GAS PLANT OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE STRIKE POWER LINES, AND ALMOST COLLIDE WITH GASOLINE TANKS AND A SMALL HILL. THE AIRPLANE WAS FLOWN BACK TO THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT STATED WHILE LANDING, AFTER TOUCH DOWN, HE OBSERVED DEER RUN ONTO THE RUNWAY AND INTO THE PATH OF THE AIRPLANE. HE STATED THAT HE ADDED POWER TO EXECUTE A GO-AROUND, AND THE AIRPLANE DID NOT RESPOND PROPERLY. A WITNESS OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE CIRCLING THE AIRPORT AND GOLF COURSE AT A 'VERY' LOW ALTITUDE SEVERAL TIMES. THE AIRPLANE WAS THEN OBSERVED FLYING SLOW AT A LOW ALTITUDE HEADING SOUTH ALONG THE NUMBER ONE FAIRWAY OF THE GOLF COURSE. THE AIRPLANE THEN MADE A STEEP LEFT TURN, THE LEFT WING STRUCK A TREE, NOSED DOWN, AND IMPACTED ON THE EDGE OF THE 7TH FAIRWAY OF THE GOLF COURSE.
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: 546 hours in all; 265 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 510 as pilot in command; 34 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,749 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 10, 1992; 57 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental GO-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TX at 1:35 am
- Destination: TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:51 am from SJT, 47 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.