Hispano Aviacion HA-200 accident near Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, April 16, 1993
On April 16, 1993 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Hispano Aviacion HA-200, registered N554GA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Walnut Ridge, Arkansas (Walnut Ridge airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A CORRODED BLEED AIR CHECK VALVE AND SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OT THE RIGHT WING'S FUEL TRANSFER SYSTEM. A FACTOR WAS THE UNFAVORABLE WIND
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 16, 1993 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Walnut Ridge, Arkansas · Walnut Ridge · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hispano Aviacion HA-200 · all HA-200s on the register
- Registration
- N554GA · no longer on the register · serial 20/72
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT WHEN THE PILOT NOTED A RIGHT WING HEAVY CONDITION. HE ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THE CONDITION BY TURNING THE AIR PRESSURE VALVE FROM BOTH TIP TANKS TO THE RIGHT TIP TANK. AFTER 10 TO 15 MINUTES, THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED AND A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING WAS MADE. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE LATERAL BALANCE LIMITS COULD NOT BE MAINTAINED BY THE PILOT AND THE RIGHT WING TANK STRUCK THE GROUND. THE WIND WAS GUSTING BETWEEN 20 TO 35 KNOTS AT THE TIME, ACCORDING TO THE PILOT. THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE RIGHT AS CONTROL WAS LOST. THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED BEFORE THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST. A SMALL FIRE STARTED AFTER THE PILOT AND HIS PASSENGER EXITED THE AIRPLANE. TESTING WAS ACCOMPLISHED ON THE COMPONENTS FOR THE FUEL SYSTEM UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE FAA. THE RESULTS OF THE TESTS REVEALED AN INOPERATIVE RIGHT WING BLEED AIR CHECK VALVE. IT WAS FOUND CORRODED WITH THE PLUNGER AND SPRING STUCK
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,036 hours in all; 26 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 972 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, March 1, 1993; 26 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,385 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Turbomeca MARBOREII.3 (turbojet); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 3GV Grain Valley MO at 9:15 pm
- Destination: GAD Gadsden AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 16 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.