# NTSB FTW90FA097: Beech 58, N770X, Dallas, TX, April 20, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 20, 1990, 01:11 local (06:11 UTC)
- Place: Dallas, TX
- Coordinates: 32.829517, -96.84967 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8295&lon=-96.8497&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 17, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23019
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW90FA097
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23019/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW90FA097

## 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

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - 1 engine
  - fuel boost pump selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
  - precautionary landing - initiated, pilot in command
  - airspeed(vmc) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)

## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N770X-1990-11-13), registration cancelled 1990-11-13, S/N TH23 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 58
- Registry model: [Beech 58](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-58) (registry code 1152740) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TH23
- Engines: 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19900420010249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900420010249A), Apr 20, 1990: Beech 58, Dallas, TX, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Asked to return to land. Made steep turn and stalled over top crashed and burned. Incorrectly used high boost pumps

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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