Piper PA-32R-301T accident near Liberty, Texas, January 14, 1990
On January 14, 1990 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-32R-301T, registered N8128B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Liberty, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FAILURE OF THE TAPPET FACES. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN IN WHICH THE FORCED LANDING WAS MADE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 14, 1990 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Liberty, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-301T PA-32R-301 · all PA-32R-301Ts on the register
- Registration
- N8128B · registry record · serial 32R8029018
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING CRUISE FLIGHT AT 3500 FEET, THE AIRCRAFT YAWED VIOLENTLY LEFT, FOLLOWED BY AN ENGINE SHUTDOWN. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A INFLIGHT ENGINE RESTART WITHOUT SUCCESS. LANDING WAS MADE TO A PASTURE WITH THE GEAR UP DUE TO THE SUSPECTED WET GROUND CONDITIONS. DURING THE GROUND RUN, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A FENCE ROW, RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE VIOLENT YAW AND ENGINE SHUTDOWN WAS THE RESULT OF THE TAPPET FACE FAILURES. EXAMINATION OF THE FACES DID NOT DETERMINE THE FAILURE MODE.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 550 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 550 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,050 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 29, 1990; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,500 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RNJ Baytown TX at 3:30 pm
- Destination: HNO Henderson TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from IAH, 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.