Aviation Crash Map

Piper PA-28-140 N55234

28 August 1990 · Bulverde, Texas, United States · Fatal

Summary

On 28 August 1990 at about 06:32 local time, a Piper PA-28-140 registered N55234, operated by Hangar Aviation Inc., was involved in an accident near Bulverde, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 06:32
Classification
Accident
Location
Bulverde, Texas, United States
Coordinates
29.7698, -98.4509
Aircraft
Piper PA-28-140
Registration
N55234
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Hangar Aviation Inc.
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Fredericksburg → San Antonio
Aircraft damage
Destroyed
Weather
VMC
Light
Night/Dark
NTSB number
FTW90FA167

People

1 person died.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
2 1 1 0 0

Probable cause

MISMANAGEMENT OF THE FUEL SUPPLY RESULTING IN FUEL STARVATION. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THE AIRPLANE, THE DARK NIGHT CONDITION, AND THE TREES.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE STU PLT AND ONE PAX WERE ON A NIGHT CROSS COUNTRY FLT WHEN A TTL NON-MECHANICAL LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED. THE PLT WAS IN CONTACT WITH ATC AND REQ'D CLEARANCE TO LAND. ATC GRANTED THE REQUEST AND OFFERED INFO ON A CLOSER ARPT. THE PLT INITIALLY REJECTED THE ALTERNATE ARPT AND REQ'D TO CONTINUE INBOUND. ACCORDING TO THE PAX, THE PLT MADE NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE ENGINE, BUT COULD NOT DO SO DURING THE FORCED LANDING. AFTER A MINUTE THE PLT REQ'D VECTORS TO THE ALTERNATE ARPT WHICH WERE TRANSMITTED TO HIM. HE ESTABLISHED A 70 MPH GLIDE TOWARD THE ARPT AND CONTINUED TO ATTEMPT A RESTART. HE SWITCHED FUEL TANKS SEVERAL TIMES AND USED THE PRIMER DURING THESE ATTEMPTS. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED INTO TREES APPROXIMATELY ONE MILE SOUTHWEST OF THE ALTERNATE ARPT. EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL TANKS REVEALED THE RIGHT TANK EMPTY AND THE LEFT TANK ONE QUARTER FULL. THE RIGHT TANK WAS FOUND SELECTED. THE ENGINE WAS SUCCESSFULLY TEST RUN AFTER THE ACCIDENT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Piper PA-28 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
12 Dec 1990 Piper PA-28-151
N4480F
Jupiter, Florida, United States Zimmerman, Barry L. No injuries -
24 Apr 1990 Piper PA-28-161
N2110D
Chandler, Arizona, United States Chandler Air Service No injuries -
13 Oct 1990 Piper PA-28-140
N5809U
Agua Dulce, California, United States R.i. Flying Club Serious injuries -
20 May 1990 Piper PA-28-181
N24PT
East Lansing, Michigan, United States J. J. Tiefenthaler Fatal 1
8 Apr 1990 Piper PA-28-140
N5628U
Forsyth, Montana, United States - Serious injuries -
3 Feb 1990 Piper PA-28-161
N473FT
Sebastian, Florida, United States FL Institute of Technology Fatal 1

All 9,402 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
19 Mar 1990 Bell 206B
N5016F
Pearland, Texas, United States
no coordinates
Houston Helicopter, Inc Serious injuries -
17 Mar 1990 Cessna 172G
N4696L
Rio Hondo, Texas, United States - No injuries -
28 Mar 1990 Beechcraft 100
N696JB
Uvalde, Texas, United States - Serious injuries -
3 Apr 1990 Hughes H500C
N9128F
Houston, Texas, United States Mark R. Lancaster No injuries -
15 Apr 1990 Hughes 369HS
N9138F
Junction, Texas, United States Neveri, Inc. No injuries -
16 Apr 1990 Cessna 152
N93070
Albany, Texas, United States - No injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States