Ayres S2R accident near Mcgregor, Texas, June 15, 1990
On June 15, 1990 at about 5:10 pm local time, a Ayres S2R, registered N8472V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mcgregor, Texas. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91, subpart F). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FUEL EXHAUSTION INDUCED POWER LOSS, WHICH RESULTED FROM THE PILOT'S INACCURATE FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 15, 1990 · about 5:10 pm local time
- Place
- Mcgregor, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ayres S2R
- Registration
- N8472V · registry record · serial 2232R
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91, subpart F)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT THE FUEL QUANTITY GAUGE WAS INOPERATIVE AND THAT HE INTENDED TO REFUEL EVERY HOUR AND 45 MINUTES. HE HAD FLOWN FOR TWO HOURS WITHOUT REFUELING ON THE PRECEDING DAY. AT 1,500 FEET THE POWER LOSS OCCURRED. DURING THE FORCED LANDING THE PILOT REALIZED THAT HIS CHOSEN SITE HAD UNEVEN TERRAIN AND DITCHES. HE WAS TRYING TO FLY THE AIRPLANE ACROSS A DITCH WHEN THE TAIL STRUCK THE EMBANKMENT. NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL IN THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND AND THE SUCCESSFUL ENGINE TEST RUN DID NOT REVEAL ANY MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,835 hours in all; 510 in this make and model; 2,688 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,994 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, May 11, 1990; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R1340ANI (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MSA Mount Pleasant TX at 4:00 pm
- Destination: 5R5 Wharton TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.
Other NTSB records under N8472V the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.