Lockheed 250 TRI-GEAR accident near Dallas, Texas, December 7, 1987
On December 7, 1987 at about 11:29 pm local time, a Lockheed 250 TRI-GEAR, registered N400NY, was destroyed in an accident near Dallas, Texas (Redbird airport). It was a ferry 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 7, 1987 · about 11:29 pm local time
- Place
- Dallas, Texas · Redbird · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Lockheed 250 TRI-GEAR 250 TRI-GE
- Registration
- N400NY · no longer on the register · serial 2379
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE RIGHT ENGINE OF THE AIRCRAFT FAILED THREE TIMES IN FLIGHT. AFTER THE LAST FAILURE NEAR THE MIDDLE MARKER THE PILOT FEATHERED THE PROPELLER. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH POWER LINES AND THE GROUND ABOUT 400 YARDS SHORT OF RUNWAY 31 AT THE REDBIRD AIRPORT. THE RIGHT FUEL SELECTOR WAS POSITIONED TO THE LEFT REAR TANK AND THE LEFT SELECTOR WAS POSITIONED TO THE OFF POSITION. THE LEFT WING TANKS WERE INTACT AND EMPTY. BOTH ENGINES HAD FAILED DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. TWO AIRPORTS WERE OVERFLOWN THAT WERE ADEQUATE FOR LANDING AND THAT HAD FUEL AVAILABLE. THIS WAS THE CO-PILOT'S FIRST FLIGHT.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,500 hours in all; 782 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days; 11,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,735 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, September 29, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 22,500 lb
- Seats: 17
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Wright R-1820-56A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: SAT San Antonio TX at 10:00 pm
- Destination: RBD Dallas TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 31, 5,452 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 290° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,400 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:29 pm from RBD, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.