Piper PA-38-112 accident near Carrollton, Texas, July 25, 1992
On July 25, 1992 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N9240T, was destroyed in an accident near Carrollton, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. FACTORS WERE THE FAILED CARBURETOR DE-ICE SYSTEM VALVE RESULTING IN AN INOPERATIVE CARBURETOR AND THE INADEQUATE ANNUAL INSPECTION BY COMPANY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 25, 1992 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Carrollton, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N9240T · no longer on the register · serial 3878A0288
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS DESCENDING THE AIRPLANE INTO THE CONTROL ZONE AND HAD RECEIVED CLEARANCE TO ENTER A RIGHT BASE FOR RUNWAY 15 WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT AFTER HE APPLIED CARBURETOR HEAT. THE PILOT MADE A 180 DEGREE TURN AND DESCENDED OVER ONE OPEN GRASS FIELD AS HE ATTEMPTED TO GLIDE TO A DIRT FIELD. A FENCE AND A RAILROAD TRACK LAY BETWEEN THE FIELDS. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE FENCE, ROTATED APPROXIMATELY 180 DEGREES, AND DESCENDED OUT OF CONTROL TO IMPACT THE TERRAIN NEAR THE RAILROAD TRACKS. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE MAIN VALVE FOR THE CARBURETOR HEAT BOX HAD FAILED AND WAS SUCKED INTO THE CARBURETOR INLET, BLOCKING AIR FLOW, AND RENDERED THE CARBURETOR INOPERATIVE. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT PORTIONS OF THE VALVE ASSEMBLY HAD BEEN FAILING FOR AN UNSPECIFIED TIME PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT AND ITS' RETAINING SCREWS HAD NOT BEEN SECURED PROPERLY.
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: 110 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 90 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,439 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 28, 1992; 48 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Stramel Aviation INC.
The flight
- Departed from: ADS Addison TX at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:37 pm from ADS, 4 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.