Aero Falcon Intl., INC. KNIGHT FALCON accident near Mineral Wells, Texas, August 6, 1993
On August 6, 1993 at about 10:40 pm local time, a Aero Falcon Intl., INC. KNIGHT FALCON, registered N502AF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mineral Wells, Texas (Mineral Wells Municipal airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE AUTOPILOT WHICH RESULTED IN AN IMPROPER FLIGHT CONTROL CONDITION. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S INABILITY TO REGAIN CONTROL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 6, 1993 · about 10:40 pm local time
- Place
- Mineral Wells, Texas · Mineral Wells Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Falcon Intl., INC. KNIGHT FALCON KNIGHT FAL
- Registration
- N502AF · no longer on the register · serial 600501
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE EXPERIMENTAL PROTOTYPE, PILOT OPTIONAL, AIRPLANE WAS DEPARTING ON A TEST/ORIENTATION FLIGHT AFTER THE FIRST FLIGHT OF THE DAY HAD BEEN DELAYED DUE TO AUTOPILOT MALFUNCTIONS AND INTERRUPTED DUE TO ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS. AFTER MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORMED, THE FLIGHT TOOK OFF INTO A RIGHT CROSS WIND OF BETWEEN 5 AND 20 KNOTS. THE PILOT SAID THAT AT ABOUT 50 FEET AGL, THE AIRPLANE ENTERED AN UNCOMMANDED RIGHT YAW AND ROLL THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT. HE SAID THAT THE YAW AND ROLL INCREASED IN SEVERITY UNTIL THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND AFTER THREE 360 DEGREE TURNS. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE FLIGHT CONTROL MALFUNCTION WAS A RESULT OF A RUDDER HARD OVER, SIMILAR TO THE ONE THAT HAD BEEN EXPERIENCED DURING THE GROUND CHECKS PRIOR TO THE FIRST FLIGHT.
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; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,590 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 1,245 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MWL at 10:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 4,325 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 045° at 5 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.