Aeronca 11AC accident near Paradise, Texas, May 4, 1989
On May 4, 1989 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Aeronca 11AC, registered N3226E, was destroyed in an accident near Paradise, Texas (Paradise airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON, AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED DURING THE FORCED LANDING, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 4, 1989 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Paradise, Texas · Paradise · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 11AC · all 11ACs on the register
- Registration
- N3226E · no longer on the register · serial 11AC-1574
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES SAID THE PLT MADE 2 LOW PASSES OVER THE AIRSTRIP AFTER TKOF, THEN TURNED WEST & BGN A CLIMB. AFTER GLANCING ATTHE ACFT, A WITNESS HEARD THE ENG 'GET QUIET AS IF SHUT DOWN FOR A LANDING.' HE DIDN'T CONSIDER THIS UNUSUAL, SINCE ENGSWERE OFTEN THROTTLED BACK NR THE STRIP. LTR, THE ACFT WAS FND WHERE IT HAD CRASHED IN A STEEP NOSE DWN ATTITUDE ON A HDGOF SOUTH, APRX 1/2 MI WSW OF THE STRIP. ACFT DMG WAS TYPICAL OF A SLOW SPD IMPACT. NO EVIDENCE OF ENG PWR WAS EVIDENT &NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE/MALFUNCTION WAS FND. THE ACFT WAS NOT REFUELED BEFORE FLT, BUT A WITNESS ESTD THERE WAS 5 GAL IN THE MAIN TANK & 7 GAL IN THE AUX TANK. BOTH TANKS WERE RUPTURED DRG IMPACT & AN ODOR OF FUEL WAS NOTED. THE ACFT WAS PLACARDED FOR AUTO FUEL AND AUTO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE CARB.THE AUX FUEL VLV WAS FND IN THE 'OPEN' PSN, ALTHO IT WAS TO BE CLOSED EXCEPT TO DRAIN AUX FUEL TO THE MAIN TANK IN LVL FLT ONLY. TEMP & DEW POINT WERE 78 & 67 DEG, RESPECTIVELY. ICING PROBABILITY CHARTS SHOWED CARB ICING WAS POSSIBLE AT RATED PWR. THE CARB HEAT WAS FND IN THE COLD/OFF PSN.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 120 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,600 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 22, 1988; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,250 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-8F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 11:30 pm
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 6, 2,360 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from FTW, 25 miles away
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.