# NTSB FTW85LA179: Piper PA-31, N23L, Eagle Lake, TX, March 25, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 25, 1985
- Place: Eagle Lake, TX
- Coordinates: 29.580371, -96.319648 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5804&lon=-96.3196&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21720
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW85LA179
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21720/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW85LA179

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Overrun, landing - roll
  - stolen aircraft/unauthorized use - performed, pilot in command
  - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment (contributing factor)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

ON OR ABOUT 3/25/85, THE ACFT WAS LANDED ON A SHORT PRIVATE STRIP. DURING THE LANDING, IT OVERRAN THE STRIP, THEN COLLIDED WITH A DIRT BANK & A TREE. THE PLT ABANDONED THE ACFT. NEITHER HE NOR THE NEW OWNER COULD BE FOUND. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THE ACFT HAD BEEN SET AFIRE AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE ACFT BORE A REGISTRATION OF N23LX, BUT THE ACFT DATA PLATE & FAA RECORDS SHOWED THAT A REGISTRATION OF N23L SHOULD HAVE BEEN DISPLAYED. DURING A SEEMINGLY UNRELATED ARREST, POLICE FOUND THE RECORDS OF N23L IN ANOTHER ACFT THAT WAS LOADED WITH 1500 LBS OF MARIJUANA. THE PLT WAS PRESUMED TO HAVE HAD NO INJURIES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N23L (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 31-76
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-A1A 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Eric Schaffer
- Flight plan: Unknown
- Airport: Private Strip

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; medical: unknown, unknown

## Weather

- Conditions: Not reported
- Temperature: -0 °F

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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