Miller International Arpt Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mcallen, Texas 78503
Thursday, January 23, 1986 17:00 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACFT CRASHED INTO TWO TREES DURING A FORCED LANDING AFTER THE ENG LOST PWR. THE PLT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF LNDG AT AN ARPT WHEN THE CONTROLLER ASKED HIM TO MAKE A 360 TURN BECAUSE OF TRAFFIC AND TO USE RWY 13 INSTEAD OF 18. AS THE PLT TURNED RT FOR A NEW BASE LEG THE ENG STOPPED. THE PLT NEVER ADVISED THE TWR OF A LOW FUEL STATE OR ASKED FOR EMERGENCY PRIORITY LNDG. THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENG AND LNDED IN A WOODED AREA. THE CRASH RUPTURED THE FUEL LINES BUT THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL SPILLAGE OR FUEL IN ANY OF THE ACFT TANKS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/23/1986
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1700
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City MCALLEN
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 78503
Event Date Year 1986
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MILLER INTERNATIONAL ARPT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MFE
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 270
Airport Elevation 107
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 1750 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID MFE
Elevation of weather observation facility 107
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 20
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 15
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 90
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
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 FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 769
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 23 1986 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2000
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 31113
Date of most recent change to record Jan 10 2001 2:57PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N20889
NTSB Number FTW86LRG11
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 172M
Aircraft Series Identifier 172M
Aircraft Serial Number 17263866
Certified Max Gross Weight 2200
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 Sep 13 1985 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 2265
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 ROBERT HARRISS
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 120 HARVEY
Operator City MCALLEN
Operator State TX
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 78501
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
Departure City RANCHO TANCASIV
Departure State TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 1615
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 10 2001 2:56PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 13
Runway Length 7103
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --