Cessna 172E and Piper PA-31T accident near Alpine, Texas, August 20, 1995
On August 20, 1995 at about 8:51 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 172E (N5638T) and Piper PA-31T (N53AM), were involved in the same accident near Alpine, Texas (Alpine-Casparis airport). No one was hurt; 8 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOTS OF BOTH AIRPLANES TO SEE AND AVOID EACH OTHER. A FACTOR WAS THE CESSNA'S INOPERATIVE RADIO.
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOTS OF BOTH AIRPLANES TO SEE AND AVOID EACH OTHER. A FACTOR WAS THE CESSNA'S INOPERATIVE RADIO.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 20, 1995 · about 8:51 pm local time
- Place
- Alpine, Texas · Alpine-Casparis · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 8 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 172E · all 172Es on the register
- Registration
- N5638T · no longer on the register · serial 17251538
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Piper PA-31T · all PA-31Ts on the register
- Registration
- N53AM · registry record · serial 31T-7920037
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172E final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CESSNA 172E, N5638T, HAD LANDED ON RUNWAY 19, AND THE PIPER PA-31T, N53AM, HAD LANDED ON RUNWAY 5. THEY COLLIDED AT A RUNWAY INTERSECTION DURING THEIR RESPECTIVE LANDING ROLLOUTS. THE PILOTS OF BOTH AIRPLANES REPORTED THAT THEY DID NOT SEE EACH OTHER UNTIL THEY CONVERGED. BOTH PILOTS STATED THAT THEY MADE VHF RADIO CALLS ON THE LOCAL UNICOM FREQUENCY (122.8) TO ANNOUNCE THEIR APPROACHES TO THE AIRPORT. THE UNICOM RADIO OPERATOR REPORTED THAT HE DID NOT RECALL HEARING A TRANSMISSION FROM THE CESSNA, BUT DID HEAR A TRANSMISSION FROM THE PIPER. A GROUND TEST OF THE VHF TRANSMITTER/RECEIVER IN THE CESSNA SHOWED THE RADIO TO BE INOPERATIVE.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-31T final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CESSNA 172E, N5638T, HAD LANDED ON RUNWAY 19, AND THE PIPER PA-31T, N53AM, HAD LANDED ON RUNWAY 5. THEY COLLIDED AT A RUNWAY INTERSECTION DURING THEIR RESPECTIVE LANDING ROLLOUTS. THE PILOTS OF BOTH AIRPLANES REPORTED THAT THEY DID NOT SEE EACH OTHER UNTIL THEY CONVERGED. BOTH PILOTS STATED THAT THEY MADE VHF RADIO CALLS ON THE LOCAL UNICOM FREQUENCY (122.8) TO ANNOUNCE THEIR APPROACHES TO THE AIRPORT. THE UNICOM RADIO OPERATOR REPORTED THAT HE DID NOT RECALL HEARING A TRANSMISSION FROM THE CESSNA, BUT DID HEAR A TRANSMISSION FROM THE PIPER. A GROUND TEST OF THE VHF TRANSMITTER/RECEIVER IN THE CESSNA SHOWED THE RADIO TO BE INOPERATIVE.
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 for the Cessna 172E from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,994 hours in all; 800 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 1,881 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TX07 Presidio TX at 8:00 pm
- Destination: E38
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 6,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the Piper PA-31T from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,100 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 120 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,678 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 21, 1995; 52 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,000 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W PT-6 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CRQ Carlsbad NM
- Destination: E38
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 5, 5,016 ft by 60 ft
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
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 N5638T 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.