Amateur-built CRI-CRI MC-12 accident near Arlington, Texas, May 23, 1992
On May 23, 1992 at about 1:45 pm local time, a amateur-built CRI-CRI MC-12, registered N71AM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Arlington, Texas (Arlington Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
TOTAL POWER LOSS CAUSED BY BLOCKED CARBURETOR SCREEN AND IGNITION POINTS OPEN BEYOND MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATION. A FACTOR WAS INADEQUATE ANNUAL INSPECTION AND IGNITION POINT MAINTENANCE ADJUSTMENT NOT PERFORMED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 23, 1992 · about 1:45 pm local time
- Place
- Arlington, Texas · Arlington Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built CRI-CRI MC-12 CRI-CRI MC
- Registration
- N71AM · registry record · serial 12-0252
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A VFR APPROACH THE LEFT ENGINE LOST TOTAL POWER. THE PILOT PERFORMED A FORCED LANDING. THE AIRPLANE LANDED SHORT OF A TAXIWAY ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND THEN CAME TO REST NEAR THE LEFT EDGE OF THE TAXIWAY. A MAINTENANCE EXAMINATION OF THE LEFT ENGINE REVEALED THE CARBURETOR SCREEN OBSTRUCTED WITH DEBRIS AND THE IGNITION POINTS SET AT .038 OF AN INCH. THE MECHANIC REPORTED THAT THE MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS WERE .014 TO .016 OF AN INCH. AFTER CLEANING THE CARBURETOR SCREEN AND ADJUSTING THE IGNITION POINTS TO .015 OF AN INCH, THE CARBURETOR JETS WERE READJUSTED. AN ENGINE TEST RUN WAS CONDUCTED THROUGH ALL RPM RANGES WITH NO ENGINE DISCREPANCIES NOTED.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 501 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 426 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 174 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 22, 1992; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 380 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: France PUL-425 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ARL at 1:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 9,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:51 pm from DFW, 13 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.