Quad City CHALLENGER accident near Granbury, Texas, August 16, 2011
On August 16, 2011 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Quad City CHALLENGER, registered N979JP, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Granbury, Texas (Granbury Regional Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The leak in the plastic connectors in the fuel lines, which resulted in decreased engine power during the initial climb.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 16, 2011 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Granbury, Texas · Granbury Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Quad City CHALLENGER II CW
- Registration
- N979JP · no longer on the register · serial CH2-0699-CW-1889
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilots noted a decrease in engine performance during the initial climb, and the airplane began to descend. The airplane subsequently stalled about 10 to 15 feet above ground level and impacted terrain. An examination of the airplane showed that plastic “Y” connectors in the fuel lines were cracked and leaking. The cracked and leaking connectors in the fuel lines would have caused decreased fuel flow to the engine and are consistent with the reported loss in engine performance. Postaccident examination revealed no other preimpact malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during initial climb defining event
- Loss of engine power (partial) during initial climb
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel distribution › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Damaged/degraded
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,500 hours in all; 0 in this make and model
- Last flight review: February 1, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
Other crew
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,600 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: November 1, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 92 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, August 5, 2011; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 850 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Hirth 2706 Series (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GDJ Granbury TX at 3:00 pm
- Destination: GDJ Granbury TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 3,603 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 3:15 pm from KGDJ
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.