Beech A36 accident near Houston, Texas, September 27, 1993
On September 27, 1993 at about 8:10 pm local time, a Beech A36, registered N80010, was destroyed in an accident near Houston, Texas (Hobby Airport). It was an other work-use 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
THE FUEL LEAK WHICH RESULTED FROM THE MECHANIC'S IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE FUEL LINE. A FACTOR WAS THE LEAD MECHANIC'S INADEQUATE POST RUN UP INSPECTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 27, 1993 · about 8:10 pm local time
- Place
- Houston, Texas · Hobby Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N80010 · no longer on the register · serial E-2749
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING ENGINE START, UTILIZING THE HIGH BOOST PUMP, THE PILOT NOTED FLAMES COMING UP FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT TOWARD THE DOOR. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE ABLE TO EXIT BEFORE THE AIRPLANE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. INVESTIGATION REVEALED A CROSS THREADED OUTPUT LINE ON THE ENGINE DRIVEN FUEL PUMP WHICH ALLOWED FUEL TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE PUMP HAD BEEN REMOVED AND RE-INSTALLED EARLIER IN THE DAY. THE MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED THE POST-MAINTENANCE RUN UP STATED THAT HE HAD TO RUN THE BOOST PUMP ON LOW TO KEEP THE ENGINE FROM RUNNING ROUGH. HE DID NOT INFORM ANYONE OF THAT DIFFICULTY UNTIL AFTER RELEASING THE AIRPLANE FOR FLIGHT AND AFTER THE ACCIDENT.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all; 250 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 40 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 27, 1993; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-550-B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: HOU
- Destination: HOU
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from HOU
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.