Piper PA24-180 accident near Arlington, Texas, June 30, 1990
On June 30, 1990 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Piper PA24-180, registered N5256P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Arlington, Texas (Arlington Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL STARVATION CAUSED BY THE PILOT IN COMMANDS FAILURE TO SELECT A TANK WITH FUEL AND THE IMPROPER LOWERING OF FLAPS WHILE PERFORMING A FORCED LANDING RESULTING IN THE AIRCRAFT LANDING SHORT AND COLLIDING WITH A FENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 30, 1990 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Arlington, Texas · Arlington Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA24-180 · all PA24-180s on the register
- Registration
- N5256P · no longer on the register · serial 24-288
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE WAS ON THE BASE LEG FOR LANDING. THE ENGINE LOST TOTAL POWER DUE TO DEPLETION OF THE FUEL IN THE SELECTED TANK. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A RESTART AFTER SWITCHING TO THE OTHER FUEL TANK AS HE WAS EXECUTING AN EMERGENCY LANDING TOWARD THE AIRPORT. DURING THE DESCENT, THE PILOT LOWERED THE FLAPS TO THE FULL DOWN POSITION. JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN, THE LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER STRUCK A 3 FEET HIGH FENCE POST AND A HARD LANDING RESULTED.
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: 470 hours in all; 87 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 302 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,447 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 23, 1990; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RVS Tulsa OK at 2:48 pm
- Destination: F54 Arlington TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 4,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:51 pm from FTW, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.