Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Terrell, Texas 75160
Monday, May 11, 1992 16:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE SWITCHED TO THE LEFT TANK FOR HIS DESCENT TO PATTERN ALTITUDE. AT 800 FT THE ENGINE STOPPED. HE SWITCHED BACK TO THE RIGHT TANK BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE. DURING THE FORCED LANDING THE LANDING GEAR CAUGHT A POWER LINE & THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD COLLAPSING THE NOSE GEAR. THE LEFT TANK WAS FOUND EMPTY AND THE RIGHT TANK NEARLY FULL. TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL AT THE SITE NOTED AN 'OVERWHELMING SMELL OF ALCOHOL' COMING FROM THE PILOT. THE PILOT SUBMITTED TO A PORTABLE BREATH TESTER ON-SCENE, AND IT SHOWED THE PILOT TO HAVE A 0.149% BLOOD ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S ALCOHOLIC IMPAIRMENT OF EFFICIENCY AND JUDGEMENT WHICH LED TO HIS INATTENTION TO THE AMOUNT OF FUEL REMAINING IN THE LEFT FUEL TANK, RESULTING IN FUEL STARVATION AND A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE EXISTENCE OF THE POWER LINE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/11/1992
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1630
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City TERRELL
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 75160
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1646 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 250
Weather Observation Facility ID RBD
Elevation of weather observation facility 660
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 32
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 25
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 35
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2021
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 46669
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 2:55PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7152D
NTSB Number FTW92LA129
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-22-150
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-22-150
Aircraft Serial Number 22-5016
Certified Max Gross Weight 2000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 13 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 8
Airframe Hours 1840
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name TRISTATE TRIM LINE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3316 RIDGELAKE LANE
Aircraft Owner City PLANO
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 75074
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name TRISTATE TRIM LINE
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 3316 RIDGELAKE LANE
Operator City PLANO
Operator State TX
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 75074
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code NONE
Departure City KLUTTS FIELD
Departure State TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 1600
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --