# NTSB FTW88FA035: Lockheed 250 TRI-GEAR, N400NY, Dallas, TX, December 7, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 7, 1987, 17:29 local (23:29 UTC)
- Place: Dallas, TX
- Coordinates: 32.660644, -96.84085 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6606&lon=-96.8409&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report June 7, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22529
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW88FA035
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22529/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW88FA035

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - fuel consumption calculations - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - refueling - not obtained, pilot in command (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with object, descent - emergency
  - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE RIGHT ENGINE OF THE AIRCRAFT FAILED THREE TIMES IN FLIGHT. AFTER THE LAST FAILURE NEAR THE MIDDLE MARKER THE PILOT FEATHERED THE PROPELLER. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH POWER LINES AND THE GROUND ABOUT 400 YARDS SHORT OF RUNWAY 31 AT THE REDBIRD AIRPORT. THE RIGHT FUEL SELECTOR WAS POSITIONED TO THE LEFT REAR TANK AND THE LEFT SELECTOR WAS POSITIONED TO THE OFF POSITION. THE LEFT WING TANKS WERE INTACT AND EMPTY. BOTH ENGINES HAD FAILED DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. TWO AIRPORTS WERE OVERFLOWN THAT WERE ADEQUATE FOR LANDING AND THAT HAD FUEL AVAILABLE. THIS WAS THE CO-PILOT'S FIRST FLIGHT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N400NY](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N400NY-1988-04-06), registration cancelled 1988-04-06, S/N 2379 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Lockheed 250 TRI-GEAR (250 TRI-GE)
- Registry model: [Lockheed 18-56](https://openairdocs.org/model/lockheed-18-56) (registry code 5261642) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2379
- Airframe hours: 8735
- Engines: WRIGHT R-1820-56A 1350 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Ferry, Part 91
- Registered owner: Nicole Corporation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, September 29, 1987
- Departed: SAT, SAN ANTONIO, TX
- Destination: RBD, DALLAS, TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: RBD, Redbird, runway 31, 5,452 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 11,500 total, 782 in this make and model, 11,000 as pilot in command, 90 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 290° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,400 ft overcast
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: RBD, 1 nm away

## 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 19871207082869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871207082869A), Dec 7, 1987: Lkheed 18LKHEED, Dallas, TX, Destroyed. Right engine quit and was feathered during approach. Left engine quit on final. Crashed short. Was out of fuel.

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.

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