Boeing A75 accident near East Bernard, Texas, May 19, 1989
On May 19, 1989 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Boeing A75, registered N1722B, was destroyed in an accident near East Bernard, Texas. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
WATER IN FUEL FROM IMPROPER SERVICING OF THE AIRCRAFT AND IMPROPER PREFLIGHT BY THE PILOT. THE TAILWIND & SOFT/WET TERRAIN WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 19, 1989 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- East Bernard, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing A75 · all A75s on the register
- Registration
- N1722B · registry record · serial 75-5927
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER THE PLT DEPARTED ON AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLT, THE ENG LOST POWER. CHEMICALS WERE JETTISONED & AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS MADE. HOWEVER, THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN IN A MUDDY FIELD WITH A TAILWIND & NOSED OVER. AN EXAM OF THE ACFT REVEALED THERE WAS WATER IN THE FUEL SYS. THE ACDNT OCCURRED AFTER THE ACFT HAD BEEN REFUELED FOR THE 3RD TIME THAT DAY.
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
- Flight time: 9,745 hours in all; 6,000 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,112 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 1988; 179 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,520 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: East Bernard TX at 7:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 21 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 28.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:00 pm from KHOU, 40 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.