Boeing A75 accident near Comfort, Texas, July 31, 1994
On July 31, 1994 at about 1:47 pm local time, a Boeing A75, registered N60459, was substantially damaged in an accident near Comfort, Texas (Rust airport). 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 INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE CROSSWIND AND HIS FAILURE TO PUSH THE PROPELLER LEVER FULL FORWARD. FACTORS WERE THE CROSSWIND AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE BEFORE TAKEOFF CHECKLIST.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 31, 1994 · about 1:47 pm local time
- Place
- Comfort, Texas · Rust · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing A75 · all A75s on the register
- Registration
- N60459 · registry record · serial 75-139
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER COMPLETING THE RUNUP THE PILOT FAILED TO PUSH THE PROPELLER LEVER TO THE FULL FORWARD POSITION. WITNESSES OBSERVED A VERY SLOW ACCELERATION AND A LONG ROLL DURING THE ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF. THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR CAME OFF THE SHOULDER OF THE RUNWAY AND THE TIRE IMPACTED A RUT RESULTING IN A LOSS OF CONTROL. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE ROOF OF A HANGAR AND A UTILITY POLE AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. A 10 KNOT CROSSWIND EXISTED 90 DEGREES TO THE RUNWAY.
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; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,800 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 1,700 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 596 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 3, 1993; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming R-680-13 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: ERV Kerrville TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 2,330 ft by 28 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,400 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:51 pm from SAT, 30 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.