Piper PA-12 accident near La Porte, Texas, December 24, 1994
On December 24, 1994 at about 10:36 pm local time, a Piper PA-12, registered N2820M, was substantially damaged in an accident near La Porte, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL STARVATION AS RESULT OF THE FAILURE OF THE GLASS BOWL ON THE GASCOLATOR. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN AT THE PILOT'S DISPOSAL TO EXECUTE A FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 24, 1994 · about 10:36 pm local time
- Place
- La Porte, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-12 · all PA-12s on the register
- Registration
- N2820M · registry record · serial 12-1172
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ENGINE LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 1,000 FEET. THE PILOT LANDED ON A NARROW DIRT ROAD ON A LEVEE. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE MAIN LANDING GEARS SUNK INTO SOFT MUD AND RUTS, AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER COMING TO REST ON ITS BACK. THE PILOT, WHO IS ALSO THE CERTIFICATED MECHANIC THAT HAD RECENTLY REBUILT THE AIRPLANE, STATED THAT PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT, HE FOUND FUEL LEAKING FROM AROUND THE GLASS BOWL IN THE GASCOLATOR ASSEMBLY. THE PILOT ADDED THAT HE RESEATED THE GLASS BOWL AND SECURED THE LOCKING SCREW WITH SAFETY WIRE. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE GASCOLATOR GLASS BOWL WAS MISSING, RESULTING IN THE FUEL STARVATION OF THE ENGINE.
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: 339 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 305 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,543 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 15, 1994; 54 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: T41 TX at 10:30 pm
- Destination: HPY Baytown TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 11 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:36 pm from EFD, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number FTW95LA072.