# NTSB DCA83IA003: Beech E90, N213DS, Wilmington, DE, October 28, 1982

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: October 28, 1982, 08:44 local (13:44 UTC)
- Place: Wilmington, DE
- Coordinates: 39.659332, -75.569351 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6593&lon=-75.5694&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 28, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- NTSB case key (mKey): 73063
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA83IA003
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73063/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA83IA003

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - airspeed(vmc) - not possible, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - high obstruction(s) (contributing factor)
  - maneuver - performed, pilot in command
  - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED SHORTLY AFTER TAKING OFF FROM THE GREATER WILMINGTON AIRPORT, WILMINGTON, DE. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE LEFT ENGINE LOST POWER AT ABOUT 100 FT AGL, JUST AS THE LANDING GEAR WAS BEING RETRACTED. HE SAID THE AUTOFEATHER WAS ARMED, BUT THE LEFT PROPELLER DID NOT AUTOMATICALLY FEATHER. HE MANUALLY FEATHERED THE LEFT PROPELLER AND CHECKED THAT THE GEAR WAS RETRACTING. THE AIRSPEED DECREASED TO ABOUT 100 KTS. HE STATED THAT HE BEGAN A DESCENT TO ACHIEVE THE BEST SINGLE ENGINE SPEED, BUT LEVEL FLIGHT COULD NOT BE SUSTAINED. REALIZING HE WAS COMMITTED TO A FORCED LANDING, HE CLIMBED TO CROSS OVER A POWER LINE, LOWERED THE GEAR AND FLAPS, THEN LANDED IN AN OPEN FIELD. DURING TOUCHDOWN, THE LEFT GEAR HIT A MOUND OF DIRT AND SEPARATED. WHILE SKIDDING TO A STOP, THE RIGHTMAIN GEAR ALSO FAILED. AN EXTENSIVE INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO REASON FOR THE ENGINE FAILURE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N213DS (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH E90
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: LW64
- Airframe hours: 3422
- Engines: P & W PT6A-28 715 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91
- Operator: Air Linpro Inc.
- Registered owner: Air Linpro Inc.
- Departed: ILG, WILMINGTON, DE
- Destination: IAD
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: ILG, Greater Wilmington, runway 27, 7,165 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 6,634 total, 2,873 in this make and model, 5,605 as pilot in command, 68 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Temperature: 108 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ILG, 2 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19821028069219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19821028069219A), Oct 28, 1982: Beech E90, Wilmington, DE, Minor damage. Pilot reported power loss on left engine on takeoff. Unable to climb. Crash landed in field. Engine checked normal.

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.

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