Argus Aviation CA-7 accident near Angleton, Texas, June 11, 2003
On June 11, 2003 at about 3:45 pm local time, a Argus Aviation CA-7, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N9043L, was destroyed in an accident near Angleton, Texas (Brazoria County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's loss of lateral aircraft control. Also causal was the pilot's intentional flight with an asymmetrical fuel loading, and his improper use of the fuel system. A factor in the accident was the insufficient information provided by the kit manufacturer on lateral fuel imbalance limitations.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 11, 2003 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Angleton, Texas · Brazoria County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Argus Aviation CA-7, amateur-built
- Registration
- N9043L · no longer on the register · serial 007240
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The amateur-built experimental airplane collided with terrain following a loss of control while attempting to land. As the airplane approached the displaced threshold, about 15-20 feet above ground level, it began to level off. The left wing dropped, and the airplane began to make a turn to the left. The bank continued and the airplane headed straight down. The airplane's nose impacted the ground at a 90-degree angle and was engulfed in flames. The pilot was working on a problem with his right fuel tank, and the purpose of the flight was to burn fuel from the right tank in an effort to empty it. Each tank was capable of holding about 80 gallons. The kit manufacturer stated that the airplane was not designed to fly with an imbalance of weight in the fuel tanks. He said that the airplane would be adversely affected if such an imbalance occurred, and that the airplane would not be maneuverable if one tank was full and the other empty. All flight manuals and written materials provided by the kit manufacture do not clearly state the lateral fuel imbalance limitations or prohibit flight with that condition.
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, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,600 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 3,770 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Walter 601D (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: LBX Angleton TX at 2:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 7,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 17 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,500 ft; a few clouds at 2,700 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from LBX
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.