Piper PA-28-235 accident near Houston, Texas, December 9, 1991
On December 9, 1991 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-235, registered N55839, was substantially damaged in an accident near Houston, Texas (West Houston airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO CORRECTLY CALCULATE FUEL CONSUMPTION AND THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. A FACTOR WAS THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 9, 1991 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Houston, Texas · West Houston
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-235 · all PA-28-235s on the register
- Registration
- N55839 · registry record · serial 28-73I033
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB, 50 - 75 FEET AGL, OF A NIGHT TAKEOFF THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND WAS FORCED TO LAND IN UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. THE PILOT HAD FAILED TO CALCULATE HIS FUEL USAGE, RESULTING IN FUEL STARVATION. AFTER LANDING THE AIRPLANES FUEL TANK SELECTION LEVER WAS PLACED TO A TANK WITH FUEL. FOLLOWING THE SELECTION CHANGE THE ENGINE WAS STARTED WITHOUT PROBLEMS AND A FUNCTIONAL CHECK OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NO ANOMALIES.
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: 186 hours in all; 108 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 135 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,250 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 9, 1991; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 4,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 350° at 1 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from HOU, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.