Nelson FORD V-6 STOL 262 accident near San Benito, Texas, January 10, 1994
On January 10, 1994 at about 4:18 pm local time, a Nelson FORD V-6 STOL 262, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N4288L, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Benito, Texas (San Benito Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WITH THE CAUSE UNDETERMINED. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 10, 1994 · about 4:18 pm local time
- Place
- San Benito, Texas · San Benito Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Nelson FORD V-6 STOL 262 FORD V-6 S, amateur-built
- Registration
- N4288L · no longer on the register · serial 1992-1-02-16
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT VEERED TO THE LEFT DURING INITIAL CLIMB FROM RUNWAY 12. DURING A RIGHT TURNOUT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND RESTARTED ACCORDING TO THE WITNESS. AS THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LEVEL THE AIRPLANE WINGS FOR LANDING ON RUNWAY 30, THE RIGHT WING STRUCK THE GROUND. THE PILOT SUFFERS AMNESIA AND TO DATE DOES NOT REMEMBER 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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 3,072 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Ford 3.8 V-6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 3,200 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,000 ft; not recorded at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:46 pm from HRL, 11 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.
Other NTSB records under N4288L the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.