# NTSB FTW85LA024: Beech 58P, N187DA, Beeville, TX, October 26, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 26, 1984, 00:15 local (05:15 UTC)
- Place: Beeville, TX
- Coordinates: 28.399709, -97.73944 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.3997&lon=-97.7394&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21609
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW85LA024
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21609/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW85LA024

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - notams - not obtained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - not operating (contributing factor)
  - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - low level (cause)
  - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - visual/aural detection, pilot in command

## Analysis

WHEN THE PLT CALLED THE FSS AT 1426 EDT & FILED AN IFR FLT PLAN, THE FSS PERSON BEGAN PROVIDING A WX BRIEFING. THE PLT INTERRUPTED THE WX BRIEFING & SAID HE WOULD CHECK BACK LATER. HE CALLED BACK AT 2016 EDT, BUT TALKED TO ANOTHER BRIEFER & ONLY ASKED FOR THUNDERSTORM INFO & THE HOUSTON TERMINAL FORCAST. AT THAT TIME, BEEVILLE MUNI ARPT, HIS DESTINATION, WAS NOTAMED CLOSED. THE PLT TOOK OFF AT 2044 CDT AND DID NOT ASK FOR NOTAM INFO, EITHER BEFORE DEPARTING OR WHILE EN ROUTE. DURING ARRIVAL, THE PLT WAS CLEARED FOR AN APCH TO BEEVILLE AT 2355 CDT. HOWEVER, THE LIGHTS WERE OUT & THE PLT COULD NOT SEE THE ARPT. HE THEN ELECTED TO DIVERT TO NAS CHASE FIELD, BUT IT TOO WAS CLOSE & ITS LIGHTS WERE OUT. BY THIS TIME, THE FUEL LEVEL WAS LOW & THE PLT ELECTED TO MAKE A CONTROLLED OFF-ARPT LANDING. HE PICKED A FIELD, BUT DURING THE NIGHT LANDING, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A FILE OF RAILROAD TIES & A SMALL TREE. THE ACFT HAD BEEN AIRBORNE APRX 4-1/2 HRS. WHEN HE FILED A FLT PLAN, HE REPORTED 5 HRS OF FUEL ON BOARD.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N187DA (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 58P
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TJ-7
- Airframe hours: 1165
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-L 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Adventist Health System
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 1, 1983, 120 hours before
- Departed: CHA, CHATTANOOGA, TN
- Destination: 3R0, BEEVILLE, TX
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,583 total, 450 in this make and model, 2,450 as pilot in command, 170 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 60° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 400 ft overcast
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Observed at: BEA, 12 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 19841026058709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841026058709A), Oct 26, 1984: Beech 58P, Beeville, TX, Destroyed, 1 fatal. No runway lights NOTAM listed under 3 R0 instead of 3RO. No runway, low fuel. Landed in field. Pilot also fatigued.

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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