# NTSB CEN22LA252: Meyers Industries 200A, N489C, Weslaco, TX, June 16, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 16, 2022, 08:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: Weslaco, TX - Coordinates: 26.186236, -97.977742 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.1862&lon=-97.9777&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 105271 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA252 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105271/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105271 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA252 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Meyers Industries 200A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=5650304), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Meyers Industries 200A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=5650304), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he intended to complete a cross-country flight and the airplane had about 65 gallons of fuel onboard. After takeoff, he entered the left traffic pattern to overfly the runway before departing the area. While on the downwind leg, the engine sustained a total loss of power and the propeller continued to windmill. As he turned toward the airport, he extended the airplane’s landing gear because he believed the airplane would reach the runway. However, the additional drag of the extended landing gear increased the airplane’s descent rate and the airplane descended into an area of trees short of the runway. The airplane collided with trees and came to rest vertically with the tail resting on a tree. The engine mounts, forward fuselage, and both wings were substantially damaged during the accident. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that there was adequate fuel available, and no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation were identified. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined based on available information. ## Factual narrative On June 16, 2022, about 0830 central daylight time, a Meyers 200A airplane, N489C, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Mid Valley Airport (TXW), Weslaco, Texas. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he intended to complete a cross-country flight to Florida and had about 65 gallons of fuel onboard before departure. After departing from TXW, he entered the left traffic pattern to overfly the runway before proceeding to the northeast. While on the downwind leg, the engine sustained a total loss of power and the propeller continued to windmill. As he turned toward the airport, he extended the airplane’s landing gear because he believed the airplane would reach the runway. However, the additional drag of the extended landing gear increased the airplane’s descent rate and the airplane descended into an area of trees short of the runway. The airplane collided with trees and came to rest vertically with the tail resting on a tree (Figure 1). Witnesses converged on the accident site and assisted the pilot’s egress from the airplane. Figure 1. Accident airplane nose down in a field and against a tree (Courtesy of Texas DPS). Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the engine mounts, forward fuselage, and both wings. The header fuel tank contained fuel. The gascolator had very little fuel and did not reveal signs of damage to the unit or the nearby structure. The gascolator butterfly valve did not appear to have any damage or evidence of dislocation from impact. There was still fuel in all the fuel tanks except the left inboard main tank, which was breached during the accident and was the only noticeable damage to the airframe fuel system. The fuel selector valve worked as designed and with no obstructions noted when air was blown through each tank selection. The fuel lines appeared new and were free of any restrictions. Fuel was observed in the fuel lines connected to the auxiliary fuel pump. The fuel lines were impact separated at the firewall due to the accident sequence. The induction air box and associated air filter were in place and not obstructed. The engine was mostly separated from the firewall mounts and the propeller separated from the engine. All oil and fuel lines were intact and secured. The crankcase and cylinders were intact with minimal damage. All engine accessories remained intact and attached at their respective mounts. The magnetos, ignition wires, and spark plugs operated as designed and produced spark when tested as an assembly. The crankshaft rotated without anomalies via the propeller flange. Suction and compression were obtained from each cylinder. All fuel lines to the engine-driven fuel pump, fuel servo, fuel manifold, and fuel injectors were intact and secure. The fuel servo screen was clear. The fuel servo’s throttle plate moved when the throttle arm wasactuated from stop-to-stop and all control linkages were intact and secure. The mixture arm moved from stop-to-stop. The fuel manifold was undamaged and in place with no debris or anomalies noted. All fuel injectors were free of obstructions. The oil filter was intact. The oil filter element was free of metallic debris and contaminants and the oil color appeared normal. The examination did not reveal any preaccident mechanical malfunction or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N489C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N489C-2024-05-25), registration cancelled 2024-05-25, S/N 254, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MEYERS INDUSTRIES INC 200A - Registry model: [Meyers Industries 200A](https://openairdocs.org/model/meyers-industries-200a) (registry code 5650304) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 254 - Year built: 1959 - Airframe hours: 3593.91 - Engines: Continental Motors IO-520-A 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Royce K Norman - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 8, 2021, 21.91 hours before - Destination: DTS, Destin, FL - Airport: TXW, runway 14, 6,002 × 75 ft - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 5, 2021; seat: left; flight hours: 2,373 total, 15 in this make and model, 2,373 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 7 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 77 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KHRL, 18 nm away - METAR: KHRL 161345Z 16007KT 9SM SCT021 27/25 A3004 RMK AO2 T02720250 ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20220616010459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220616010459A), Jun 16, 2022: Meyers Industries Inc 200A, Weslaco, TX, Substantial damage. [privacy data omitted], A Meyers M200, took off from (ktxw) with approximately 65 gallons on board. Pilot reports that he was running off the right full aft… ## Other investigations on N489C (2) 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 ERA21LA235](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA235), May 26, 2021: Meyers Industries 200A (N489C), Marathon, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the right main landing gear to fully extend during landing as a result of the underinflated right main landing gear oleo strut. - [NTSB OAK70F0098](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK70F0098), Aug 2, 1969: Myers 200A (N489C), Vacaville, CA, substantial damage ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 13, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105271. 32.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14164955&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20-%20pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Examination summary (item 2, PDF, 6 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16773383&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Examination%20Summary%20-%20Meyers%20200%20N489C-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records (item 3, PDF, 9 pages, 19.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14166116&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MX%20logs_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 4, PDF, 8 pages, 8 photos, 5.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14166730&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Docket%20photos-Rel.pdf 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.