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FTW83LA139

1983-03-05 · VICTORIA, Texas, United States · Minor · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport T42

Aircraft involved

Factual narrative

THE PLT WAS ON A TEST FLT IN HIS HOME BUILT EXPERIMENTAL ACFT. WHILE HE WAS RETURNING TO THE AIRPORT ABOUT 45 MIN AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A MUDDY FIELD WHERE THE ACFT NOSED OVER. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, ABOUT 1/2 GAL OF FUEL WAS DRAINED FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT A CHIP OF FIBERGLASS RESIN WAS FOUND ON HIS HOME BUILT FUEL GAUGE, PREVENTING IT FROM GOING DOWN AS FUEL WAS CONSUMED. HE STATED THAT HE WAS NOT SURE, BUT HE ESTIMATED 8 GAL OF FUEL WAS ON BOARD. THE ACFT HAD APRX 2.15 HRS TOTAL FLT TIME. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1983_FTW83LA139.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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