Piper PA-22-150 accident near Terrell, Texas, May 11, 1992
On May 11, 1992 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-150, registered N7152D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Terrell, Texas. 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 ALCOHOLIC IMPAIRMENT OF EFFICIENCY AND JUDGEMENT WHICH LED TO HIS INATTENTION TO THE AMOUNT OF FUEL REMAINING IN THE LEFT FUEL TANK, RESULTING IN FUEL STARVATION AND A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE EXISTENCE OF THE POWER LINE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 11, 1992 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Terrell, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-150 · all PA-22-150s on the register
- Registration
- N7152D · registry record · serial 22-5016
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE SWITCHED TO THE LEFT TANK FOR HIS DESCENT TO PATTERN ALTITUDE. AT 800 FT THE ENGINE STOPPED. HE SWITCHED BACK TO THE RIGHT TANK BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE. DURING THE FORCED LANDING THE LANDING GEAR CAUGHT A POWER LINE & THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD COLLAPSING THE NOSE GEAR. THE LEFT TANK WAS FOUND EMPTY AND THE RIGHT TANK NEARLY FULL. TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL AT THE SITE NOTED AN 'OVERWHELMING SMELL OF ALCOHOL' COMING FROM THE PILOT. THE PILOT SUBMITTED TO A PORTABLE BREATH TESTER ON-SCENE, AND IT SHOWED THE PILOT TO HAVE A 0.149% BLOOD ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION.
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: 276 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,840 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 13, 1991; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Klutts Field TX at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 25 knots, gusting 35
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:46 pm from RBD, 32 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.