# NTSB FTW82AA167: Beech B90, N98949, Charlotte, TX, May 5, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: May 5, 1982, 15:19 local (20:19 UTC)
- Place: Charlotte, TX
- Coordinates: 28.850818, -98.700813 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.8508&lon=-98.7008&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 7 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 5, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 70204
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW82AA167
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/70204/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW82AA167

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
  - aircraft weight and balance - exceeded, pilot in command
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence in clouds (contributing factor)
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - uncontrolled
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded (cause)
  - wing,spar - overload
  - wing,spar - separation
  - horizontal stabilizer surface - overload
  - horizontal stabilizer surface - separation
  - vertical stabilizer surface - overload
  - vertical stabilizer surface - separation
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PLT & 6 PAX WERE RETURNING HOME AFTER FISHING IN MEXICO. AFTER CLRG CUSTOMS AT LAREDO, TX, THEY DEPARTED ON THE NEXT LEG OF THE FLT. THE PLT WAS CLRD TO 11000 FT, BUT GOT OFF COURSE. HE COMMENTED THAT AN INSTRUMENT HAD POPPED, HE THEN REQUESTED 7000 FT, BUT DUE TO OTR TRAFFIC, HIS REQUEST WAS DELAYED. WHILE STILL AT 5000 FT, HE STATED, "HEY, I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TOP OF THIS STUFF." APRX 7 MIN AFTER BEING CLRD TO 7000 FT, CONTROLLERS NOTED THAT THE ACFT BGN DESCENDING. THEY ATMTD TO CALL THE PLT, BUT WERE UNABLE. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE ACFT HAD CRASHED AFTER THE OUTER WING PANELS AND THE EMPENNAGE HAD SEPARATED. THE EXACT SEQUENCE OF THE IN-FLT BREAK-UP WAS NOT DETERMINED. RADAR INFO INDICATED THE ACFT HAD ENTERED SVRL VERT OSCILLATIONS OF SVRL HUNDRED FEET BFR DSCNDG. AN EXAM OF THE FRACTURE SURFACES REVEALED ONLY OVERLOAD FAILURE. OTR PLTS RPRTD CLDS BTN 3000 & 6500 FT WITH ONLY LGT TURBC. THE ACFT WAS ESTIMATED TO BE APRX 65 LBS OVR THE MAX GROSS WT LMT & LOADED NEAR THE AFT CG.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N98949 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH B90
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: LJ407
- Airframe hours: 2915
- Engines: P&W PT6A-20 550 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Texas Aero
- Registered owner: Wkt Enterprises, Inc.
- Departed: LRD, LAREDO, TX
- Destination: SAT, SAN ANTONIO, TX
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 7,385 total, 35 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,700 ft broken
- Temperature: 163 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SAT, 43 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 19820505014019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820505014019A), May 5, 1982: Beech B90, Charlotte, TX, Destroyed, 6 fatal. Aircraft in flight separation occurred fatally injuring pilot and six passengers.

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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