Piper J-3 accident near Fort Worth, Texas, September 22, 1990
On September 22, 1990 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Piper J-3, registered N67631, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fort Worth, Texas (Hicks Fld airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE CROSSWIND WAS A FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 22, 1990 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Worth, Texas · Hicks Fld · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J-3 · all J-3s on the register
- Registration
- N67631 · registry record · serial 13939
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PILOT MADE A WHEEL LANDING EXPECTING A RIGHT CROSS WIND. WINDS WERE REPORTED TO BE 60 TO 80 DEGREES RIGHT OF THE RUNWAY HEADING AT 10 TO 14 KNOTS. AS THE TAIL WHEEL WAS LOWERED TO THE RUNWAY, THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE RIGHT OFF OF THE RUNWAY AND THE PILOT ELECTED TO ABORT THE LANDING. THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE, BUT BEFORE THE PILOT COULD ESTABLISH A CLIMB OR MANEUVERING SPEED, IT FLEW INTO A HANGAR THROUGH A 15 FOOT GAP IN THE DOORS AND IMPACTED THE SIDE WALL WHERE IT REMAINED SUSPENDED ABOUT 5 FEET ABOVE THE FLOOR. ANOTHER AIRPLANE PARKED IN THE HANGAR RECEIVED MINOR DAMAGE. THE THREE INDIVIDUALS WORKING IN THE HANGAR WERE NOT INJURED.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 702 hours in all; 90 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 684 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-65 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FO4 Saginaw TX at 8:00 pm
- Destination: T67 Fort Worth TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 3,760 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:52 pm from FTW, 15 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.