# NTSB FTW90LA101: Piper PA28-235, N9488W, Granbury, TX, April 27, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 26, 1990, 19:30 local (Apr 27, 1990, 00:30 UTC)
- Place: Granbury, TX
- Coordinates: 32.43938, -97.779556 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4394&lon=-97.7796&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 28, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23125
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW90LA101
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23125/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW90LA101

## Probable cause

FUEL STARVATION DUE TO THE PILOT'S DISREGARD FOR THE POSITION OF THE FUEL TANK SELECTOR.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - fuel tank selector position - disregarded, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, descent - emergency
  - object - wire,transmission
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PILOT OF THE SINGLE ENGINE AIRPLANE ON A LOCAL AREA FLIGHT WAS RETURNING TO THE AIRPORT AT LOW ALTITUDE WHEN ENGINE POWER WAS LOST. HE ATTEMPTED TO SWITCH FUEL TANKS AND RESTART THE ENGINE, BUT COLLIDED WITH WIRES AND IMPACTED INTO A FIELD. HE STATED THAT HE RAN A TANK DRY, THUS STARVING THE ENGINE AND WAS FLYING TOO LOW TO GLIDE TO A SUITABLE LANDING AREA.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9488W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9488W-1991-12-04), registration cancelled 1991-12-04, S/N 2811228 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28-235
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-235) (registry code 7102810) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-11228
- Airframe hours: 2556
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-B4B5 235 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: John W. Smith
- Registered owner: Smith, John Wayne
- Last inspection: Annual, March 15, 1990, 10 hours before
- Airport: NONE

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 915 total, 450 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19900426011839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900426011839A), Apr 26, 1990: Piper PA28235, Granbury, TX, Substantial damage. Struck a powerline and crashed. Was observed low over river prior to crash.

## Other investigations on N9488W (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 SEA73FYA17](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA73FYA17), Feb 19, 1973: Piper PA-28 (N9488W), Jerome, ID, substantial damage

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.