Piper PA-28 accident near Longview, Texas, May 1, 1991
On May 1, 1991 at about 5:05 am local time, a Piper PA-28, registered N29049, was substantially damaged in an accident near Longview, Texas. It was an instructional 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
FUEL EXHAUSTION RESULTING IN A COMPLETE POWER LOSS DUE TO THE PIC/CFI'S FAILURE TO REFUEL AT INTERMEDIATE DESTINATIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 1, 1991 · about 5:05 am local time
- Place
- Longview, Texas
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28 · all PA-28s on the register
- Registration
- N29049 · registry record · serial 28-7990429
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INSTRUCTIONAL ROUND-ROBIN IFR FLIGHT HAD CANCELLED IFR ON ITS FINAL LEG. THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND INSTRUCTOR EXCHANGED SEATS WITH THE RATED PASSENGER PILOT OCCUPYING THE RIGHT REAR SEAT. AFTER 3.5 HOURS ELAPSED TIME THE RATED PILOT UNDER INSTRUCTION BECAME THE PIC AND CONTINUED SIMULATED INSTRUMENT FLYING WITH THE RATED PASSENGER ACTING AS SAFETY PILOT. THE FUEL PLANNING HAD BEEN CONDUCTED BY BOTH PILOT'S. THE ENGINE FAILED DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION AND DURING THE FORCED LANDING THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A COW. TOTAL FLIGHT TIME WAS 4.3 HOURS. DURING THE ROUND ROBIN, THE FLIGHT LANDED AT CORSICANA, TEXAS, BUT NO FUEL WAS PURCHASED. IN THE VICINITY OF TEXARKANA, TEXAS, THE FUEL GAUGES INDICATED ABOUT 5 GALLONS APIECE AS THE FLIGHT INITIATED TIS FINAL LEG TO ITS HOME AIRPORT. FUEL EXHAUSTION OCCURRED ABOUT 10 MILES SHORT.
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: 242 hours in all; 61 in this make and model; 72 in the last 90 days; 36 in the last 30 days; 99 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,182 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 17, 1991; 95 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Le Tourneau University
The flight
- Departed from: CRS Corsicana TX at 2:45 am
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 220° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; not recorded at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.