North American T-28B accident near Bridgeport, Texas, March 27, 2000
On March 27, 2000 at about 6:00 pm local time, a North American T-28B, registered N28NE, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bridgeport, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The partial loss of engine power for an undetermined reason.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 27, 2000 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Bridgeport, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- North American T-28B · all T-28Bs on the register
- Registration
- N28NE · registry record · serial 55-138317
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and passenger reported that after flying for 45 minutes the airplane's engine began to 'run rough, vibrate, and lose power.' The pilot observed black smoke emitting from the exhaust, and he estimated the engine then began producing 'about 25% of cruise power. The right exhaust gases momentarily ignited,' but extinguished when the throttle was retarded. Following the partial loss of engine power, the oil pressure gauge indicated 40 psi, and the airplane was unable to maintain altitude. The pilot executed a gear-up, forced landing in an open field, where the airplane came to rest upright. An FAA inspector examined the airplane and stated that engine oil had been 'blown out the exhaust and down the sides of the fuselage.' The reason for the partial loss of engine power was not determined.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,183 hours in all; 56 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 1,244 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,993 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 15, 2000; 10 hours since
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Wright 1820-86A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: T67 Fort Worth TX at 5:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.