Piper PA-28R-200 accident near Denver City, Texas, August 26, 1990
On August 26, 1990, a Piper PA-28R-200, registered N9316N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Denver City, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER LEANING OF THE FUEL MIXTURE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 26, 1990
- Place
- Denver City, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N9316N · no longer on the register · serial 28R-35016
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS WITH BAGGAGE DEPARTED RUNWAY 04 WITH A 10 KNOT QUARTERING TAIL WIND. DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A STATIC WIRE APPROXIMATELY 1.2 STATUTE MILES FROM THE AIRPORT. THE AIRPORT ELEVATION WAS 3,575 FEET AND THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 6,000 FEET AT THE TIME OF TAKE OFF. THE LANDING GEAR WAS DOWN AT IMPACT. THE PILOT DID NOT USE THE FUEL BOOST PUMP FOR TAKE OFF AND HAD OVER LEANED THE FUEL MIXTURE, ACCORDING TO THE FAA INVESTIGATOR.
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: 267 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: LBB Lubbock TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.