Fairchild M-62A accident near San Antonio, Texas, September 23, 1993
On September 23, 1993 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Fairchild M-62A, registered N261A, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Antonio, Texas. It was a ferry 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
FUEL STARVATION INDUCED POWER LOSS DUE TO THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FUEL TANK SELECTION AND HIS FAILURE TO SWITCH TANKS AFTER THE POWER LOSS. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN ONTO WHICH A FORCED LANDING COULD BE EXECUTED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 23, 1993 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- San Antonio, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Fairchild M-62A · all M-62As on the register
- Registration
- N261A · registry record · serial T434383
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE WAS DESCENDING TO TRAFFIC PATTERN ALTITUDE WHEN, AS HE WAS PASSING THROUGH ABOUT 650 FEET AGL, THE ENGINE SUSTAINED A FUEL STARVATION POWER LOSS. HE NOTED THAT THE LEFT TANK WAS SELECTED AND THAT THE RIGHT TANK WAS 3/4 FULL, BUT HE SAID THAT HE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO SWITCH TANKS. HE SUBSEQUENTLY EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING INTO TREES. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE CONFIRMED THE PILOT'S STATEMENTS WITH REGARD TO THE FUEL QUANTITY AND SELECTOR CONFIGURATION. NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE LEFT FUEL TANK.
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: 2,650 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 2,595 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,937 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 26, 1993; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Ranger L-440-3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: T98 San Marcos TX at 7:40 pm
- Destination: SSF
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; not recorded at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:30 pm from SSF, 1 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.