- Date
- August 13, 1994, 19:20 local (Aug 14, 1994, 00:20 UTC)
- Place
- Eagle Lake, TX
- Injuries
- 2 minor, 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N1315JRockwell 112A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 26, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940813021279A
- Case key
- 19140
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
En route at 3,500 feet MSL, a total loss of engine power occurred. The pilot attempted an engine restart without success. During the forced landing in rough and uneven terrain, the nose gear hit a dike. Three and one gallons of fuel from the right tank and 5 and 1/2 gallons of fuel from the left tank was measured by the pilot during the airplane recovery. The pilot also reported fuel in the injector lines.
Factual narrative
On August 13, 1994, at 1920 central daylight time, a Rockwell International 112A, N1315J, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Eagle Lake, Texas. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured. Two passengers received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross country flight.
A review of Air Traffic Control data revealed the following information. At an altitude of 5,500 feet MSL en route at 50 miles from Eagle Lake VOR, the pilot contacted Houston Center for flight following to Clover Field, Houston, Texas. He was given an altimeter setting of 30.00 but radar contact was not established. The airplane descended to 4,000 feet MSL due to haze. The pilot was advised to contact Houston Approach for flight following.
During a telephone interview, the pilot stated the following information. At 3,500 feet MSL a total loss of engine power occurred and the attempted restart was unsuccessful. The airplane was not in gliding distance of the Eagle Lake Airport. A rice field was selected for the forced landing. During the landing roll, the nose gear hit a dike.
The pilot further stated that the firewall, engine mounts, and fuselage were damaged. Usable fuel during the recovery of the airplane was measured by the pilot as 3 and 1/2 gallons from the right fuel tank and 5 and 1/2 gallons from the left fuel tank. He also said fuel was found in the injector lines.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1315J
- Reported as
- Rockwell 112A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 315
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360-C1D6, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Harvey, Willie & Wells, Walter
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 7, 1994
- Departed
- 17XS · Lajitas, TX
- Destination
- T02 · Houston, TX
- Flight plan
- VFR
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 41
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 162 total · 114 in this make and model · 100 as pilot in command · 28 in the last 90 days · 12 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 150° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- DWH, 50 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.