Nanchang YAK-18A accident near Richmond, Texas, May 9, 1992
On May 9, 1992 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Nanchang YAK-18A, registered N3210R, was destroyed in an accident near Richmond, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INADVERTENT STALL. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S OSTENTATIOUS DISPLAY AND THE LOW ALTITUDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 9, 1992 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Richmond, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Nanchang YAK-18A
- Registration
- N3210R · registry record · serial 2232036
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE MILITARY VINTAGE TRAINER MADE A LOW PASS OVER THE ACTIVE RUNWAY OF A LOCAL AIRPARK THAT WAS HOSTING THEIR ANNUAL FLY-IN FOR FRIENDS OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE PRIVATELY OWNED AIRPARK. THE BACK SEAT OF THE TANDEM AIRPLANE WAS OCCUPIED BY A FORMER SOVIET AIR FORCE PILOT WHO RESIDED AT THE AIRPARK AND USED TO BE AN INSTRUCTOR AND MECHANIC IN THE SAME TYPE OF AIRPLANE IN HIS NATIVE COUNTRY. AT THE COMPLETION OF THE HIGH SPEED LOW PASS, FULL POWER WAS ADDED AND THE NOSE PITCHED UP TO 35 DEGREES AS A RAPID RIGHT TURN DEVELOPED. AN ACCELERATED STALL DEVELOPED DURING THE ATTEMPTED ROLL AND THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE.
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: 185 hours in all; 22 in this make and model; 160 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,020 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 28, 1992; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,086 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Housia 6A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: T41 La Porte TX at 8:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,700 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:51 pm from HOU, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.