Covey Trails Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fulshear, Texas 77441
Sunday, September 20, 1992 21:40 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT RENTED AN AIRPLANE FOR A SCENIC FLIGHT IN THE LOCAL AREA. PRIOR TO DEPARTING, HE EXPERIENCED AVIONICS PROBLEMS AND A MECHANIC FOUND A TRIPPED ALTERNATOR CIRCUIT BREAKER, WHICH WAS RESET. AN UNEVENTFUL REFUELING STOP WAS MADE DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS AT A LOCAL AIRPORT. DURING THE SECOND FLIGHT, ELECTRICAL POWER WAS LOST WHEN HE TRIED TO USE A LANDING LIGHT. THE PILOT USED A CIGARETTE LIGHTER TO CROSS CHECK HIS FLIGHT INSTRUMENTS WHILE SEARCHING FOR A SUITABLE PLACE TO LAND. A GRASS AIRPARK WAS FOUND AND THE PILOT INITIATED A VISUAL APPROACH. DURING THE APPROACH TO THE UNLIGHTED STRIP, THE AIRPLANE LANDED SHORT OF THE RUNWAY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER POINT OF TOUCHDOWN. FACTORS WERE THE POPPED CIRCUIT BREAKER, THE INOPERATIVE ALTERNATOR, AND THE DARKNESS OF THE NIGHT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/20/1992
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 2140
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City FULSHEAR
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 77441
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport COVEY TRAILS
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NONE
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport 350
Airport Elevation 130
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2150 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 70
Weather Observation Facility ID HOU
Elevation of weather observation facility 35
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 34
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 1000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 13
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 23
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 400
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 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2455
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 21 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 138
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 47226
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:18PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N97489
NTSB Number FTW92LA230
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 CESSNA
Aircraft Model 172P
Aircraft Series Identifier 172P
Aircraft Serial Number 17276197
Certified Max Gross Weight 2150
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 Jul 26 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 50
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ENGINEERED CONSTRUCTORS INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1001 S. DAIRY ASHFORD, # 204
Aircraft Owner City HOUSTON
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 77077
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name WOODY LESLKAR ACFT. SERVICE
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address WEST HOUSTON-LAKESIDE ARPT.
Operator City HOUSTON
Operator State TX
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 77077
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 7XS3
Departure City GRAPELAND
Departure State TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 1630
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code IWS
Destination City WEST HOUSTON
Destination State TX
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
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 17
Runway Length 3300
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --