Waco RNF accident near Lampasas, Texas, October 6, 1990
On October 6, 1990 at about 4:05 pm local time, a Waco RNF, registered N11270, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lampasas, Texas (Lampasas Muni. airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF A CYLINDER INTAKE VALVE SPRING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 6, 1990 · about 4:05 pm local time
- Place
- Lampasas, Texas · Lampasas Muni. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Waco RNF · all RNFs on the register
- Registration
- N11270 · no longer on the register · serial 3467
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ENGINE LOST PARTIAL POWER AS THE PILOT TURNED CROSSWIND AFTER TAKEOFF, FOLLOWED B A COMPLETE POWER LOSS DURING THE TURN TO DOWNWIND. THE PILOT SET UP FOR A FORCED LANDING TO THE BEST AVAILABLE FIELD WHICH WAS COVERED WITH BRUSH AND TREES. JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN, THE ENGINE HAD A MOMENTARY SURGE OF POWER AND THEN QUIT AGAIN. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE NO. 6 CYLINDER INTAKE VALVE SPRING WAS BROKEN AND THE CYLINDER WAS RUNNING COLD. ADDITIONALLY, PARTICULATE CONTAMINATION WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL SYSTEM.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 6,000 hours in all; 140 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 5,130 as pilot in command; 2,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,751 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 2, 1990; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,938 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Warner SS50 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: T28 at 4:00 pm
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 3,810 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.