Piper PA-28 accident near New Braunfels, Texas, December 28, 2024
On December 28, 2024 at about 4:45 am local time, a 1962 Piper PA-28, registered N5263W, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near New Braunfels, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper in-flight fuel planning which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation and a subsequent off-field landing on rough terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 28, 2024 · about 4:45 am local time
- Place
- New Braunfels, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28, built 1962 · all PA-28s on the register
- Registration
- N5263W · registry record · serial 28-309
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Prior to the flight, the pilot checked the fuel level and noted the airplane contained about 38 gallons of fuel. During the cross-country flight, the pilot switched fuel tanks about every 15 minutes. While on approach about 3 miles from the destination airport with the fuel selector in the left tank position, the engine began to intermittently lose power. With the electric fuel pump on, the pilot pumped the throttle, and the engine temporarily regained full power. The pilot attempted to gain some altitude when the engine lost total power. Unable to make the airport, the pilot conducted an off-field landing, during which the left wing sustained substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the left fuel tank was empty, and the right fuel tank contained 8 gallons of fuel.
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
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Fuel starvation during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Rough terrain › Contributed to outcome
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 118.4 hours in all; 3.5 in this make and model; 16.4 in the last 90 days; 15.3 in the last 30 days; 50.7 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 20, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 555 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: JWY Midlothian TX at 2:44 am
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.83 inHg
- Observation at 10:51 pm from KBAZ
Weather report (METAR): KBAZ 290451Z AUTO 31007KT 10SM CLR 14/04 A2993 RMK AO2 SLP130 T01440039
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 1 picture from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on January 30, 2025. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | FAA Inspector Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Conversation FAA Inspector | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Record of Conversation Aircraft Recovery Company | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Investigation Photograph | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.