Amateur-built POLLIWAGEN PW-1 accident near New Waverly, Texas, March 18, 1995
On March 18, 1995 at about 10:40 pm local time, a amateur-built POLLIWAGEN PW-1, registered N192EB, was substantially damaged in an accident near New Waverly, Texas. 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
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF. FACTORS WERE HIS FAILURE TO OBTAIN ENGINE PERFORMANCE DATA, THE RESULTING IMPROPER RED LINE MARKING ON THE TACHOMETER, AND THE IMPROPER ADJUSTMENT OF THE PROPELLER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 18, 1995 · about 10:40 pm local time
- Place
- New Waverly, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built POLLIWAGEN PW-1 POLLIWAGEN
- Registration
- N192EB · no longer on the register · serial 1789N
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE HOMEBUILT AIRPLANE'S SECOND FLIGHT AND FIRST TAKEOFF ROLL FROM THE 1,200 FOOT GRASS STRIP, IT STRUCK A FENCE AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY, IMPACTED A DRAINAGE DITCH AND CAME TO REST INVERTED. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE 'SHOULD HAVE BEEN AIRBORNE IN 400 FEET.' HE FURTHER STATED THAT HE HAD SET THE GROUND ADJUSTABLE PROPELLER 'TO GET AN RPM OF 2475' AS THIS WAS THE RED LINE MARKED ON THE TACHOMETER. ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER, THE MAXIMUM CONTINUOUS RATED RPM OF THE ENGINE, WHICH SHOULD CORRESPOND TO THE RED LINE ON THE TACHOMETER, IS 2700 RPM. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE BECAME AWARE OF THIS DISCREPANCY 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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 432 hours in all; 1 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 6, 1995; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,475 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 10:40 pm
- Destination: CXO Conroe TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 1,200 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°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.
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.