# NTSB FTW77FRG31: Beech C45H, N281H, San Benito, TX, March 25, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: March 25, 1977
- Place: San Benito, TX · SAN BENITO, TX
- Location: 26.1294° N, 97.6440° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of San Benito, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.1294&lon=-97.6440&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 3, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 157452
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW77FRG31
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW77FRG31

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0759  77/3/25    SAN BENITO,TX       BEECH C45H          CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 0122                    N281H               PX-  0  0  1  BUSINESS                  56, 25000 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            482 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - SAN BENITO MUNI
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          HOUMA,LA                    RETURN                      UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           WHEELS-UP                                                LANDING: GO-AROUND
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - MISCELLANEOUS: POWERPLANT FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE AND SPEED
           PILOT IN COMMAND - DELAYED IN INITIATING GO-AROUND
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - FOG
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  1000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/4 MILE OR LESS                                         NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          FOG                                                      TAIL WIND 158-202 DEGREES
        TEMPERATURE-F                                            WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
           66                                                      130
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           3                                                       IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- PLT SHUT RT ENG DOWN DUE TO OIL EXHAUSTION. OIL FOUND IN TANK AFTER ACCIDENT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N281H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N281H-2009-10-14), registration cancelled 2009-10-14, S/N AF-694 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH C45H
- Registry model: [Beech C-45H](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-c-45h) (registry code 1151018) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: San Benito Muni

## 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 19770325009189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770325009189A), Mar 25, 1977: Beech C45H, San Benito, TX, Substantial damage. Plt shut rt eng down due to oil exhaustion. Oil found in tank after accident.

## Other investigations on N281H (2)

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.

- [NTSB LAX74AL016](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX74AL016), Aug 17, 1973: Beech C-45H (N281H), Los Angeles, CA, substantial damage
- [NTSB LAX73AL013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX73AL013), Sep 13, 1972: Beech D18S (N281H), Santa Maria, CA, substantial damage

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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