Douglas A-20G accident near San Benito, Texas, October 8, 1988
On October 8, 1988 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Douglas A-20G, registered N67921, was destroyed in an accident near San Benito, Texas (Rio Grande Valley Intl airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INCAPACITATION OF THE PILOT WHILE FLYING AN AIRCRAFT DUE TO LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS FROM A CARDIAC RHYTHM DISTURBANCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 8, 1988 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- San Benito, Texas · Rio Grande Valley Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Douglas A-20G
- Registration
- N67921 · no longer on the register · serial 21857
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE 70 YR OLD PLT WAS FLYING A DOUGLAS A-20 IN A FLT OF 3 ACFT AT AN AIRSHOW (CONFEDERATE AIR FORCE 'AIRSHOW 88'). AFTERFLYING ON A SOUTHERLY HDG, THE FLT ENTERED A PROCEDURE TURN WHICH INVOLVED A 90 DEG LEFT TURN TO THE EAST FOLLOWED BY A 270 DEG RGT TURN BACK NORTHBOUND. WHILE MNVRG, THE A-20 ENTERED A RIGHT DESCENDING TURN & SUBSEQUENTLY CRASHED ON LEVEL TERRAIN IN A RELATIVELY WINGS LEVEL DESCENT. THE MAIN WRECKAGE CAME TO REST ABOUT 225' FROM THE INITIAL IMPACT POINT. ACCORDING TO A PATHOLOGICAL RPRT, THE PLT HAD SEVERE CORONARY ARTERIOSCLEROSIS & SUFFERED A HEART ATTACK.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 26,100 hours in all; 10 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 24,623 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, November 6, 1987; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 25,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Wright R-2600-23 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: HRL Harlingen TX at 6:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.