- Date
- June 29, 1995, 08:00 local (13:00 UTC)
- Place
- Pharr, TX
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N5631JCessna A188A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 19, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950629049049A
- Case key
- 19478
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
The pilot's inadequate aircraft preflight which failed to purge the aircraft fuel system of contaminants. A factor was the unsuitable terrain in the emergency landing area.
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
The aircraft lost engine power during the initial climb following takeoff. A forced landing was executed to a wet field and on touchdown the aircraft nosed over to the inverted position. An examination of the aircraft revealed evidence of fuel contamination.
Factual narrative
On June 29, 1995, at 0800 central daylight time, a Cessna A188A, N5631J, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of power during takeoff near Pharr, Texas. The commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the Title 14 CFR Part 137 flight. The aircraft was operated by Holcomb Flying Service, of McAllen, Texas.
According to interviews, conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, and in a written report, the pilot stated that during the initial takeoff climb, the engine lost power. The pilot elected to execute a forced landing to a wet cotton field. The right main landing gear separated during the landing roll and the airplane came to rest in the inverted position.
Post accident examination of the wreckage revealed that the left wing spar was bent. The operator reported in his written report that the loss of engine power was the result of fuel system contamination.
Examination of the engine did not reveal any mechanical anomalies that could have resulted in a loss of engine power. The operator reported in his written report that evidence of fuel contamination was found.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5631J
- Reported as
- Cessna A188A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18800581
- Airframe hours
- 2,335
- Engine
- Continental IO-520-D, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Holcomb Flying Service, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Aaa Flying Service, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 13, 1995 · 213 hours before
- Departed
- NONE
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
- 61
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 19,300 total · 17,000 in this make and model · 290 in the last 90 days · 85 in the last 30 days · 8 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N5631J · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.