Cessna 320-F accident near San Angelo, Texas, May 24, 1988
On May 24, 1988 at about 7:19 pm local time, a Cessna 320-F, registered N73AT, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Angelo, Texas (San Angelo/Mathis airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- May 24, 1988 · about 7:19 pm local time
- Place
- San Angelo, Texas · San Angelo/Mathis · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 320-F · all 320-Fs on the register
- Registration
- N73AT · registry record · serial 0035
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DRG FAM FLT, CFI NOTED FUEL QUANTITY LOW WITH SELECTORS ON AUX FUEL TANKS. DRG ARC TO ILS APCH, CFI ALLOWED THE RT ENG TO FAIL DUE TO FUEL STARVATION. CFI SELECTED MAIN TKS AND OBTAINED RESTART. APCH WAS CONT TO A TOUCH AND GO LNDG PERFORMED BY THE ATP PLT RECEIVING INSTRUCTION IN THE LT SEAT. AS PWR WAS ADDED, THE ACFT DRIFTED TO THE RT, DESPITE THEUSE OF FULL LT RUDDER. THE CFI DID NOT ABORT THE TKOF BECAUSE HE THOUGHT SWERVE WAS EITHER PLT INDUCED OR DUE TO ASSYMETRICAL PWR FROM MISMATCHED THROTTLE CONTROLS. NEAR THE RT EDGE OF THE RWY THE CFI TOOK CONTROL AND ROTATED. HE RPTD THAT ROTATION OCCURRED AT 96 MPH AND THAT HE EXPERIENCED LT ROLLING FORCES IMMEDIATELY AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE. THE LT SEAT PLT RPTD THE SPEED TO BE 80 TO 90 MPH. THE CFI FEATHERED THE LT PROP SHORTLY BEFORE IMPACT IN A LAKE. THE RT ENG TEST RAN SUCCESSFULLY. THE LT ENG WAS DISASSEMBLED REVEALING NO MALFTNS. RT PROP DISASSEMBLY INDICATED LITTLE PWR AT IMPACT. THE LT SEAT PLT SAID THERE WAS NO FORMAL PRE-BRIEF AND THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS NEVER EXPLAINED TO HIM.
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, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,738 hours in all; 76 in this make and model; 128 in the last 90 days; 6,724 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,739 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, March 25, 1988; 26 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,300 lb
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SJT at 5:03 pm
- Runway 3, 5,939 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:47 pm from SJT, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.