- Date
- April 20, 1990, 01:11 local (06:11 UTC)
- Place
- Dallas, TX
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N770XBeech 58
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report March 17, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19900420010249A
- Case key
- 23019
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's improper use of the fuel boost pumps for take, and his failure to maintain airspeed above the minimum single engine control speed (VMC), which resulted in a loss of aircraft control.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The plt started to take off on rwy 13R, but aborted, taxied off the rwy & went to the eng run-up area. Abt 2 min later, he announced again that he was ready to depart & was clrd to take off. During the initial climb after lift-off, the plt stated that he needed to return for lndg. He was clrd to lnd on any rwy & he decided to lnd on rwy 31L. Witnesses observed the acft in a sharp dscndg turn from abt 800' AGL as it was maneuvered back toward the rwy. However, the dscnt rate increased, then the acft crashed abt 1000' short of the rwy. During impact, it hit a lamp pole & power line, then came to rest & burned. The fuel boost pump switches were fnd in the 'high' boost positions & the rgt prop control was fnd in the feather position. The flt manual rcmdd that the boost pumps be in the 'low' position for takeoffs & lndgs. A test of the use of the high boost position in a similar acft resulted in a rough running eng & eng stoppage. A witness to the acdnt rprtd that he heard the eng sputtering & misfiring before the acft crashed.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N770X
- Reported as
- Beech 58
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- TH23
- Engine
- Continental IO-520-C, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Part 135
- Operator
- Air Exchange Inc
- Departed
- DAL
- Destination
- ABI · Abilene, TX
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- DAL · Love Field, runway 31L, 8,800 × 150 ft, concrete
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 36
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 3,631 total · 120 in this make and model · 3,516 as pilot in command · 120 in the last 90 days · 63 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 160° at 12 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 4,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 66 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.10 inHg
- Observed at
- DAL, 1 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.