Piper PA28 accident near Buda, Texas, October 21, 2020
On October 21, 2020 at about 1:20 am local time, a 1971 Piper PA28, registered N5932U, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Buda, Texas. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An improperly torqued oil line fitting during an engine overhaul, which resulted in oil exhaustion and a total loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 21, 2020 · about 1:20 am local time
- Place
- Buda, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28 140, built 1971 · all PA28s on the register
- Registration
- N5932U · registry record · serial 28-7125143
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a night training flight, the flight instructor and student pilot experienced a total loss of engine power and executed a forced landing onto rough terrain, which damaged the airplane’s right-wing spar. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed a nearly empty oil reservoir and oil residue on the underside of the fuselage and elevator, with significant thermal damage to the engine. The examination also found a disconnected oil line fitting. No material or structural anomalies were noted with the oil line or fitting. The engine had been recently overhauled, and the two mechanics who performed the overhaul stated it was very possible that they did not properly torque the oil line fitting. Following the accident, the overhaul facility implemented a requirement to torque seal applicable components to help ensure compliance with torque specifications.
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 (total) during enroute defining event
- Aircraft maintenance event during prior to flight
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Misc hardware › Hoses and tubes › Incorrect service/maintenance
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng oil sys › Incorrect service/maintenance
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Repair › Maintenance personnel
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Oil › Fluid level
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Failure
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 775 hours in all; 491 in this make and model; 190 in the last 90 days; 54 in the last 30 days; 687 as pilot in command; 416 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 12, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 54 hours in all; 54 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,960 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 21, 2020; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 7,960 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1T8 Bulverde TX
- Destination: KAUS Austin TX
- Flight plan: VFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 140° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from KAUS, 16 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KAUS 210053Z 14007KT 10SM FEW060 FEW150 28/19 A2993 RMK AO2 SLP125 T02780189
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on April 28, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | FAA Exam Observations and Interview with Mechanics | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Photos of Disconnected Engine Oil Line | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Engine Overhaul Logs | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Operator Initiatives | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | FAA Safety Briefing Article | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N5932U the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.