Beechcraft F-90 N311DS
11 January 1991 · Nacogdoches, Texas, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 11 January 1991 at about 16:40 local time, a Beechcraft F-90 registered N311DS, operated by Ridgeaire, Inc., was involved in an accident near Nacogdoches, Texas, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 16:40
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Nacogdoches, Texas, United States
- Nearest airport
- East Tex Reg. (OCH)
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Beechcraft F-90
- Registration
- N311DS
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Ridgeaire, Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Ferry
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Unknown → Addison
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- FTW91FA029
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE LOSS OF THRUST DUE TO THE PROPELLER'S FEATHERING ON LIFTOFF AS A RESULT OF IMPROPER ADJUSTMENTS MADE DURING AN ENGINE CHANGE. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN TO WHICH THE PILOT COULD EXECUTE A FORCED LANDING.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT SHORTLY AFTER LIFTING OFF, THE AIRPLANE BEGAN DECELERATING SLOWLY. HE THOUGHT THE THROTTLES HAD RETARDED; HOWEVER, ALL OF THE ENGINE INSTRUMENTS INDICATED TAKEOFF POWER. REALIZING THAT HE COULD NOT RETURN TO THE AIRPORT, THE PILOT SELECTED A FORCED LANDING AREA AND AIMED THE AIRPLANE BETWEEN TWO TREES. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT BOTH PROPS WERE AT OR NEAR FEATHER PITCH ANGLES AT IMPACT AND BEING DRIVEN UNDER POWER. BOTH ENGINES HAD BEEN CHANGED IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT AND BOTH GROUND IDLE STOPS HAD BEEN ADJUSTED AFTER THE ENGINE CHANGE WITH THE LEFT ENGINE BEING SLAVED TO THE RIGHT. THE SYSTEM OPERATED OFF OF A SQUAT SWITCH ON THE RIGHT GEAR. MISRIGGING OF THE RIGHT ENGINE WOULD BE REFLECTED IN THE LEFT AND ALLOW OIL PRESSURE TO BE VENTED FROM THE DOMES, WHICH IN TURN WOULD ALLOW THE PROPELLER CYLINDER SPRINGS TO DRIVE THE PROPS TOWARD FEATHER AS THE RIGHT STRUT EXTENDED DURING TAKEOFF.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Beechcraft F-90 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 May 1991 | Beechcraft F-90 | Key West, Florida, United States | McCarty, Richard D. & Claire | No injuries | - |
| 2 Dec 1989 | Beechcraft F-90 | Lincoln, New Mexico, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 12 Sep 2000 | Beechcraft F-90 | Anchorage, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Jul 1991 | Beechcraft BE-19 | Mesquite, Texas, United States | ARI BEN Aviator | No injuries | - |
| 27 Jul 1991 | McDonnell Douglas MD-80 | Dfw Airport, Texas, United States | American Airlines | No injuries | - |
| 1 Aug 1991 | Robinson R22 BETA | Wylie, Texas, United States | Heli TEX Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 2 Aug 1991 | Cessna 150A | Jewett, Texas, United States | Jack R. Horan | Minor injuries | - |
| 3 Aug 1991 | Beechcraft K35 | Laredo, Texas, United States | DAN R. Blaker | Minor injuries | - |
| 2 Aug 1991 | Cessna 172F | Cumby, Texas, United States | Charles D. Wood | No injuries | - |