Piper J4A accident near Granite Shoals, Texas, June 30, 1994
On June 30, 1994 at about 5:20 pm local time, a Piper J4A, registered N30342, was substantially damaged in an accident near Granite Shoals, Texas. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FUEL SYSTEM STARVATION DUE TO THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO SECURE THE ENGINE FUEL PRIMER. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 30, 1994 · about 5:20 pm local time · cases in 1994
- Place
- Granite Shoals, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J4A · all J4As on the register
- Registration
- N30342 · registry record · serial 4-1170
- 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 NUMBER TWO AND FOUR CYLINDERS WERE CHANGED ON THE ENGINE. A GROUND TEST RUN AND PREFLIGHT DID NOT REVEAL ANY DISCREPANCIES. DURING THE TAKEOFF INITIAL CLIMB, A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER OCCURRED. THE AIRPLANE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1/4 MILE BEYOND THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY WHERE THE LAND MERGED WITH WATER. THE FORCED LANDING WAS MADE ON A STREET WHERE THE LEFT WING STRUCK A TREE DURING THE LANDING ROLL. EXAMINATION REVEALED THE FUEL PRIMER CONTROL WAS UNLOCKED AND THE PRIMER WAS OUT 1/2 INCH. A TEST RUN OF THE ENGINE WITH THE PRIMER IN DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY DISCREPANCIES.
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
- Flight time: 1,780 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 1,684 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,292 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 8, 1994; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2KL Sunrise Beach TX at 6:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N30342 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Piper J4 Cub Coupe 197 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Piper 44,840 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Continental A-65-8 137 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Sunrise Beach Airport · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Texas 6,244 since 1982 · 1,061 in the last ten years
- Texas 29,985 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/FTW94LA215.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.