# Accident 19960919031369A: Cessna 320C, Waco, TX, September 19, 1996

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 19, 1996, 05:15 local time
- Place: Waco, TX
- Airport: Waco Regional Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 31.5508° N, 97.1402° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.5508&lon=-97.1402&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3020T, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3020T-1997-05-14) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 320C (registry code 2074510, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-320c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 320C
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 18,000 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW96FA390](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96FA390) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960919031369A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

NO FUEL AT AIRPORT. LOW ON FUEL. INDICATES DEPARTED INTO FOGGY NIGHT. FUEL EXHAUSTED GLIDED INTO GROUND IMPACT. (-23) ON SEPTEMBER 19, 1996, AT APPROXIMATELY 0515 CDT, A CESSNA (CE-320-C) WAS DESTROYED UPON IMPACT WITH TERRAIN NEAR WACO, TEXAS. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED A PLOWED FIELD IN SHALLOW DESCENT NEAR WINGS LEVEL ATTITUDE WITH APPROXIMATELY CRUISE POWER BEING DEVELOPED FROM BOTH ENGINES. THIS IMPACT WAS WITHIN APPROXIMATELY ONE MILE OF THE WACO VOR. A POST IMPACT FIRE HAD OCCURRED. INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE ACCIDENT SITE FOR THE BUSINESS FLIGHT. A FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED AND A WEATHER BRIEF WAS NOT RECORDED. LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND RELATIVES REPORTED THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION. ON SEPTEMBER 18, 1996, THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED ALAMOGORDA, NEW MEXICO, AND LANDED AT NEW BRAUNFELS MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (3R5) AT APPROXIMATELY 1930 CDT. THE PILOT COULD NOT OBTAIN FUEL AT NEW BRAUNFELS MUNICIPAL AIRPORT UNTIL 0700 THE NEXT MORNING. THE PILOT CALLED HOME AT APPROXIMATELY 2100 AND STATED THAT HE WOULD SPEND THE NIGHT IN THE AIRCRAFT, GET FUEL IN THE MORNING, AND RETURN HOME TO GRANBURY MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (F55). WHEN AIRPORT PERSONNE                                      L RETURNED THE FOLLOWING MORNING AT APPROXIMATELY 0640, THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT AT THE NEW BRANFELS MUNICIPAL AIRPORT. ON SEPTEMBER 19, 1996, AT APPROXIMATELY 0920 CDT, THE LAND OWNER FOUND THE AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE AND CALLED 911.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW96FA390](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96FA390), Sep 19, 1996: Cessna 320C (N3020T), Waco, TX, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: VFR flight by the pilot into instrument meteorological conditions, and his failure to maintain sufficient altitude or clearance from the terrain. Factors relating to the accident were: inadequate…

## Other reports on N3020T (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19910911048559I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910911048559I), Sep 11, 1991: Cessna 320C (N3020T), Monahans, TX, Minor damage. Pilot failed to lower landing gear and landed gear up.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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