Aviation Crash Map

Piper PA-32RT N21590

18 December 1994 · San Antonio, Texas, United States · Fatal

Summary

On 18 December 1994 at about 21:50 local time, a Piper PA-32RT registered N21590 was involved in an accident near San Antonio, Texas, United States. 3 people were on board and one died, one was seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 21:50
Classification
Accident
Location
San Antonio, Texas, United States
Coordinates
29.5400, -98.4896
Aircraft
Piper PA-32RT
Registration
N21590
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Not recorded
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Dallas → Unknown
Aircraft damage
Destroyed
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
FTW95FA069

People

1 person died.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
3 1 1 1 0

Probable cause

THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE LACK OF A SUITABLE AREA FOR THE FORCED LANDING.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE AIRCRAFT LOST POWER WHILE DESCENDING APPROXIMATELY 4 MILES NORTH OF SAN ANTONIO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (SAT). AFTER THE LOSS OF POWER, THE PILOT-RATED PASSENGER MANIPULATED THE FLIGHT CONTROLS WHILE THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A RESTART THAT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST IN A GRASSY FIELD ADJACENT TO POWER LINES AND TREES ABOUT 1 1/2 MILES NORTHWEST OF RUNWAY 12L. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE AND ENGINE DID NOT REVEAL ANY STRUCTURAL OR MECHANICAL DEFECTS. TESTING OF THE ENGINE DRIVEN FUEL PUMP ACCESSORY REVEALED THAT IT WAS FLOWING FUEL FROM THE OVERBOARD DRAIN AT A RATE OF 1/2 GALLON PER MINUTE; HOWEVER, IT WAS STILL PUMPING FUEL TO THE ENGINE AT 25 PSI AND 275 LBS/HR. ON SITE EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED USABLE FUEL IN BOTH WING TANKS. TEARDOWN OF THE PUMP REVEALED 'O' RINGS THAT WERE WORN AND DISPLAYED SQUARE CROSS SECTIONS. ADDITIONALLY, THE INLET SCREEN TO THE FUEL SERVO HAD NON-METALLIC DEBRIS IN THE FITTING AND THE SCREEN WAS OBSERVED TO BE PARTIALLY CLOGGED. THE ANOMALIES FOUND WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM ACCESSORIES WERE INCONCLUSIVE. THE REASON FOR THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Piper PA-32RT accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
25 Sep 1994 Piper PA-32RT-300T
N39658
San Mateo, California, United States Aero Haven, Inc. Serious injuries -
8 Apr 1994 Piper PA-32RT-300T
N881GK
Englewood, Colorado, United States P.c. Flyers, Inc. Serious injuries -
22 Jan 1994 Piper PA-32RT-300T
N39505
Newberry, Michigan, United States - No injuries -
13 Mar 1994 Piper PA-32RT-300
N83JF
Harbor Springs, Michigan, United States - Minor injuries -
11 Dec 1994 Piper PA-32RT-300
N6517C
Sylvan Springs, Alabama, United States Air Carriers, Inc. Fatal 1
7 Apr 1994 Piper PA-32RT-300
N9710C
Smithville, Tennessee, United States Tennessee Air Corp Inc., Fatal 1

All 169 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
1 Jan 1994 Piper PA-28-151
N44015
McKinney, Texas, United States Centerline Aviation No injuries -
1 Jan 1994 Hughes 369HS
N7092Q
Mason, Texas, United States - Serious injuries -
18 Jan 1994 Cessna 150D
N4558U
Mount Pleasant, Texas, United States - No injuries -
20 Jan 1994 Piper PA-34-200T
N123AH
Dallas, Texas, United States - No injuries -
10 Jan 1994 Nelson FORD V-6 STOL 262
N4288L
San Benito, Texas, United States - Serious injuries -
3 Feb 1994 Cessna T210H
N6914R
McAllen, Texas, United States - Minor injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States