# NTSB FTW87FA045: Beech 65-80, N1590S, Brownsville, TX, January 15, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 15, 1987, 10:05 local (16:05 UTC)
- Place: Brownsville, TX
- Location: 25.8666° N, 97.3789° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from BROWNSVILLE/SOUTH PADRE ISLAND INTL (BRO), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.8666&lon=-97.3789&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 21, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22228
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW87FA045
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22228/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW87FA045

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - company-induced pressure, company/operator management (contributing factor)
  - planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - procedures/directives - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - lowering of flaps - not selected, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll

## Analysis

COMMERCIAL PILOT DEPARTED BROWNSVILLE, TX (BRO) ON SPECIAL VFR FLIGHT PLAN. DURING INITIAL CLIMB, AT APPROXIMATELY 300 FT AGL BOTH ENGINES QUIT DUE TO FUEL STARVATION. FORCED LANDING WAS MADE TO UNIMPROVED FIELD. AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. PILOT AND THREE PASSENGER WERE UNINJURED. AIRCRAFT HAD APPROXIMATELY 39 GALLONS OF FUEL IN TWO AUXILIARY FUEL TANKS. PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO REACH FUEL STOP IN MEXICO IN COMPLIANCE WITH COMPANY POLICY. PILOT STATED THAT HE EXPERIECED A SINGLE ENGINE LANDING IN AN UNIMPROVED FIELD DUE TO FUEL STARVATION WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REACH FUEL STOP IN MEXICO ON ONE OTHER OCCASION. IN BOTH INSTANCES REVENUE PASSENGERS WERE ABOARD THE AIRCRAFT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1590S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1590S-2013-08-06), registration cancelled 2013-08-06, S/N LD-27, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 65-80
- Registry model: [Beech 65-80](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-65-80) (registry code 1152806) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IGSO-540-B1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-igso-540-b1a) (registry code 41535, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: LD-27
- Airframe hours: 6624
- Engines: LYCOMING IGSO-540-A1D 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: H.A.V. Leasing Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 21, 1986, 57 hours before
- Destination: MAM, MATAMOROS
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: BRO, Brownsville

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 8,803 total, 234 in this make and model, 8,696 as pilot in command, 140 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 50° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,900 ft overcast
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: BRO, 4 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 19870115000519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870115000519A), Jan 15, 1987: Beech 6580, Brownsville, TX, Substantial damage. Engines failed after takeoff. Aircraft struck a tree during forced landing. Pilot failed to select fullest tanks.

## Other investigations on N1590S (1)

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 LAX80FJA01](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80FJA01), Oct 5, 1979: Beech 65-80 (N1590S), Princeville, HI, 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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