Boeing A75L3 accident near San Antonio, Texas, November 20, 2012
On November 20, 2012 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Boeing A75L3, registered N56226, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near San Antonio, Texas (Horizon airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A partial loss of engine power during takeoff, likely due to the accumulation of carburetor ice.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 20, 2012 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- San Antonio, Texas · Horizon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing A75L3 · all A75L3s on the register
- Registration
- N56226 · registry record · serial 75-888
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that an uneventful landing was performed on the grass runway and the airplane was turned around at the end of the runway for a takeoff in the opposite direction. The pilot reported that the winds were calm at this time. After liftoff, at about 15 feet above the ground, the pilot recognized that the airplane was not producing adequate power and was not accelerating and he landed the airplane. The airplane touched down near the departure end of runway, went off the end of the runway and struck trees. A witness stated that the airplane landed, made a 180 degree turn at the end of the runway and departed in the opposite direction. The witness said that he saw the airplane become airborne and when it was about 20 to 30 feet above the ground it leveled off and appeared to lose power. On-scene examination of the airplane did not reveal any anomalies that would account for the loss of engine power. The temperature an dew point recorded at the time of the accident were in the range of susceptibility for moderate carburetor icing at cruise power setting and serious icing at descent power setting. It is not known if the pilot used carburetor heat during the the landing before the accident, however, the carburetor heat control was found in the off position during postaccident examination. Based on the available information it is likely that the airplane's engine experienced carburetor icing which reduced the available power output of the engine.
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
- Loss of engine power (partial) during takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 6,000 hours in all; 110 in this make and model
- Last flight review: April 4, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 20, 2012
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming R680 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SSF San Antonio TX at 10:50 pm
- Destination: SSF San Antonio TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 2,250 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from SSF, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.