Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Kingsland, Texas 78639
Friday, October 26, 1990 14:37 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE FACE OF A CLIFF ABOUT 50 FEET BELOW THE CREST OF A MOUNTAIN THAT WAS THE ONLY HIGH TERRAIN WITHIN SEVERAL MILES. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR, VISIBILITY UNLIMITED. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED IN A STRAIGHT AND LEVEL ATTITUDE, AND HAD BEEN TRIMMED IN A NOSE-DOWN ATTITUDE. A WITNESS STATED THAT THE ENGINE SOUNDED NORMAL, AND DID NOT HEAR OR SEE ANYTHING UNUSUAL. ONE WEEK PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT THE PILOT HAD RESIGNED FROM HIS POSITION AS A BANK TELLER. ON THE MORNING OF THE ACCIDENT THE PILOT WAS CONFRONTED BY AUTHORITIES REGARDING THE EMBEZZLEMENT OF $6,218.16. THE PILOT STATED TO BANK OFFICIALS THAT HE WOULD MAKE RESTITUTION BY 1700 HRS THAT AFTERNOON. THE ACCIDENT OCCURED 4 HRS LATER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO AVOID FLYING INTO THE MOUNTAIN.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/26/1990
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1437
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City KINGSLAND
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 78639
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 10
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1450 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 100
Weather Observation Facility ID AUS
Elevation of weather observation facility 900
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 45
Time Zone of the weather observation cdt
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1953
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 26 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1700
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 50005
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 5:28PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N41586
NTSB Number FTW91FA010
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion Ground
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28R-200
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28R-200
Aircraft Serial Number 28R-7435204
Certified Max Gross Weight 2650
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Oct 19 1990 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 10
Airframe Hours 3047
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name WRIGHT FLYERS, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 1115 PAUL WILKINS RD.
Operator City SAN ANTONIO
Operator State TX
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 78216
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 SAT
Departure City SAN ANTONIO
Departure State TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 1209
Departure Time Zone cdt
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
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 --