Burchinal A4D-2 accident near Fort Worth, Texas, February 27, 1998
On February 27, 1998 at about 5:50 pm local time, a Burchinal A4D-2, registered N21NB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fort Worth, Texas (Fort Worth Meacham Intl. airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total hydraulic system failure for an undetermined reason.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 27, 1998 · about 5:50 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Worth, Texas · Fort Worth Meacham Intl. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Burchinal A4D-2
- Registration
- N21NB · registry record · serial 145011
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The single seat military vintage jet airplane impacted terrain following a runway overrun, while landing on runway 34R, at the Fort Worth Meacham International Airport, Fort Worth, Texas. The pilot stated that he was descending on a downwind leg at Meacham International when the 'utility failure' light illuminated. The pilot extended the gear utilizing the emergency extension procedure and executed a zero flap landing. The airplane was approximately 1/2 mile from the runway when the pilot reduced the power and the engine experienced an uncommanded engine surge, which increased the airplane's airspeed. The airplane landed in the touchdown zone on the runway. The pilot was unable to stop the airplane on the runway and the airplane overran the departure end of the runway. The airplane slid down a 12-foot-deep embankment, where it came to rest upright, 25 feet from the departure end of the runway. Hydraulic fluid was observed leaking from the right wing root.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 4,700 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme
- Maximum gross weight: 22,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Wright J65-16 (turbojet); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: F39 Sherman TX at 5:45 pm
- Destination: FTW Fort Worth TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34R, 7,501 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from FTW
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.