Amateur-built SA300 accident near Wills Point, Texas, June 5, 1992
On June 5, 1992 at about 9:23 pm local time, a amateur-built SA300, registered N5649, was destroyed in an accident near Wills Point, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 5, 1992 · about 9:23 pm local time
- Place
- Wills Point, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SA300
- Registration
- N5649 · no longer on the register · serial EL-1
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS VIEWED BY SEVERAL WITNESSES MANEUVERING HIS AEROBATIC AIRPLANE AT A LOW ALTITUDE OVER OPEN PASTURE LAND. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED WITH A LARGE BLACK BIRD DURING ONE PASS AND DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST. THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED OUT OF CONTROL AND IMPACTED INTO A FIELD. A POST IMPACT FIRE CONSUMED THE AIRFRAME. THE BIRD'S CARCASS WAS LOCATED UNDER THE COCKPIT OF THE INVERTED AIRFRAME.
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: 800 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 750 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 23, 1991
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-B4A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: TRL Terrell TX
- Destination: TRL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:47 pm from GVT, 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.