Piper PA-31P accident near San Antonio, Texas, September 27, 1993
On September 27, 1993 at about 10:23 pm local time, a Piper PA-31P, registered N891SP, was destroyed in an accident near San Antonio, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO MAINTAIN VMC FOLLOWING TAKEOFF. FACTORS WERE: PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER TO ONE ENGINE FOR UNDETERMINED REASON, AND LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN AIRCRAFT TYPE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 27, 1993 · about 10:23 pm local time
- Place
- San Antonio, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31P · all PA-31Ps on the register
- Registration
- N891SP · registry record · serial 31P-7300145
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING TAKEOFF ROLL, THE LEFT ENGINE BEGAN TO EMIT BLACK SMOKE. THE TOWER INFORMED THE PILOT, WHO DID NOT RESPOND, AND CONTINUED HIS TAKEOFF. AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE, THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED TO LEVEL OFF THEN ENTER A LEFT TURN AND IMPACT THE GROUND APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES WEST OF THE AIRPORT. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE PROVIDED NO EVIDENCE OF MALFUNCTION. REVIEW OF AVAILABLE PILOT RECORDS INDICATED THE PILOT HAD 12 HOURS IN TYPE.
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
What happened, in order
- LOSS OF ENGINE POWER during takeoff - roll/run
- LOSS OF CONTROL - IN FLIGHT during takeoff - initial climb
Pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, none, APLN, none
- Flight time: 1,668 hours in all; 12 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: class 2
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,374 hours
- Last inspection: type not recorded, August 5, 1992
- Maximum gross weight: 6,500 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TIGO-541-E1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operating certificate: in the vicinity
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°C, dew point 36°C
- Altimeter: 30 inHg
- Observation at 10:29 pm from SSF, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number FTW93FA267.