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FTW89LA017

1988-11-10 · GLADEWATER, Texas, United States · Minor · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport 07F

Aircraft involved

Factual narrative

THE PILOT WAS RETURNING HOME FROM A PERSONAL NIGHT CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT WHEN THE ENGINE STOPPED PRODUCING POWER. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO GLIDE TO THE HOME AIRPORT BUT WAS UNABLE AND HAD TO ACCEPT A FORCED LANDING ON A RAILROAD TRACK. DURING THE FINAL APPROACH, ONE WING IMPACTED A TREE BUT THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO HOLD THE AIRPLANE STRAIGHT AND LANDED ON THE TRACKS. DURING AN INTERVIEW BETWEEN THE PILOT AND AN FAA AVIATION SAFETY INSPECTOR, THE PILOT STATED HE HAD NOTICED THE INDICATED FUEL QUANTITY IN THE TANKS HAD DECREASED MORE RAPIDLY ON THIS LEG OF THE FLIGHT. THE INSPECTOR FOUND THE PRIMER UNLOCKED, WITH THE PLUNGER EXTENDED APPROXIMATELY 1/2 INCH. AN ENTRY IN THE AIRPLANE LOGBOOK INDICATED AN 'O' RING HAD BEEN REPLACED IN THE PRIMER, PRIOR TO THE FIRST LEG OF THIS FLIGHT. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1988_FTW89LA017.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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