On July 30, 1984, a Cessna A185F (registration N6102E) operated by Jay Miller was involved in an aviation accident near Del Rio, TX. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A non-instrument rated pilot took off at night approximately 30 minutes before impacting a rocky hill. The aircraft was demolished by impact and fire. No preimpact mechanical failure was found.
Accident Details
A non-instrument rated pilot departed at night. Approximately 30 minutes after takeoff, the aircraft struck the crest of a rocky hill. Ground scars indicated that the impact occurred while the aircraft was in a steep nose-down attitude with the right wing lowered. The accident site was at an elevation of about 1,750 feet.
Aircraft Damage and Investigation
The aircraft was destroyed by the impact and subsequent fire. Investigators found no evidence of preimpact mechanical failure or malfunction. Local residents reported that the sky was very dark with a light overcast and no moon.
Pilot Information
The pilot was not rated for instrument flight. No additional details about the pilot were provided in the source.