Chance Vought F4U-4 accident near Breckenridge, Texas, April 1, 1993
On April 1, 1993 at about 9:40 pm local time, a Chance Vought F4U-4, registered N68HP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Breckenridge, Texas. 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
THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 1, 1993 · about 9:40 pm local time · cases in 1993
- Place
- Breckenridge, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Chance Vought F4U-4 · all F4U-4s on the register
- Registration
- N68HP · registry record · serial 97302
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE WWII VINTAGE MILITARY AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WHILE CLIMBING THROUGH 5,000 FEET. THE PRESELECTED FORCED LANDING AREA WAS BEYOND THE GLIDING CAPABILITIES OF THE AIRPLANE, SO THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND STRAIGHT AHEAD IN A ROUGH AND UNEVEN FIELD. THE FUSELAGE WAS SEVERED AFT OF THE PILOT'S SEAT AND BOTH WINGS AND THE UNDERSIDE OF THE AIRPLANE WERE SEVERELY DAMAGED. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE FAILED TO DISCLOSE ANY ANOMALIES THAT COULD HAVE PREVENTED NORMAL ENGINE OPERATION
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: 10,700 hours in all; 670 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,345 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1993; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 13,297 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-2800-18W (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: BKD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from ABI, 48 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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N68HP on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Chance Vought F4 19 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Chance Vought 21 aircraft on the register
- Engine: P&W R-2800-18W 173 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Stephens County · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Texas 6,244 since 1982 · 1,065 in the last ten years
- Texas 29,956 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/FTW93FA115.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.