Piper PA-28R-201 accident near San Antonio, Texas, July 28, 1995
On July 28, 1995 at about 10:29 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-201, registered N36085, was destroyed in an accident near San Antonio, Texas (Stinson Municipal airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The dual student's delay in aborting the takeoff. A factor was the flight instructor's inadequate supervision.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 28, 1995 · about 10:29 pm local time
- Place
- San Antonio, Texas · Stinson Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-201 · all PA-28R-201s on the register
- Registration
- N36085 · no longer on the register · serial 28R-7837264
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot dual student reported that a short field landing was executed. During the subsequent takeoff, 'I retracted the flaps and then applied full power, we started the takeoff roll waiting for the airspeed to increase, the airplane lifted off, but we were unable to achieve a positive rate of climb so I decided to abort the takeoff.' The flight nstructor reported that during takeoff, the student 'unexpectedly retarded the throttle...landed...and began to apply the brakes in accordance with the normal training procedures.' He further stated that 'within 1 to 2 seconds after landing, I applied full brakes as well. After a few more seconds, it was apparent that we were not slowing down enough to stop by the end of the runway. Under the circumstances, the best decision was to maintain control of the airplane and go straight off the end of the runway.' The aircraft subsequently impacted a fence beyond the departure end of the runway. The left fuel tank ruptured during the collision with the fence and the airplane caught fire and burned.
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; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 965 hours in all; 93 in this make and model; 132 in the last 90 days; 45 in the last 30 days; 867 as pilot in command; 413 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C6 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: SSF at 9:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 4,129 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 102°F (39°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.