Beechcraft B90 N230TW

Summary

On 5 January 1994 at about 23:29 local time, a Beechcraft B90 registered N230TW was involved in an accident near Okeechobee, Florida, United States. 10 people were on board and 10 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

5 January 1994 at 23:29

Classification

Accident

Location

Okeechobee, Florida, United States

Coordinates

27.4994, -80.9292

Aircraft

Beechcraft B90

Registration

N230TW

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Kissimmee → Opa-Locka

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

MIA94MA048

10 people died.

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER REMEDIAL ACTION CONCERNING A RIGHT ENGINE POWER ANOMALY, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED DURING GO-AROUND FROM AN ABORTED PRECAUTIONARY LANDING, WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL AND AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: FAILURE OF THE OWNER/OPERATOR/PILOT TO ASSURE PROPER MAINTENANCE INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT, FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH A SERVICE BULLETIN CONCERNING THE ENGINE FUEL CONTROLS, SUBSEQUENT BEARING FAILURE IN THE RIGHT ENGINE FUEL CONTROL, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF AIRCRAFT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT (OR PILOT-RATED PASSENGER) REPORTED AN 'INDICATION' PROBLEM & SAID THEY INTENDED TO LAND AT OKEECHOBEE, BUT COULDN'T FIND THE AIRPORT. THEY THEN REPORTED ENGINE TROUBLE & SAID THAT THEY WOULD TRY TO LAND ON A ROAD. THEY CIRCLED THE AREA & APPROACHED A DIRT ROAD WITH LANDING LIGHTS ON. A CAR WAS PROCEEDING ON THE ROAD IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THE PLANE BEGAN TO CLIMB, & IT ENTERED A LEFT TURN. IT THEN ROLLED INTO A STEEP RIGHT BANK, DESCENDED NOSE DOWN, CRASHED & WAS CONSUMED BY FIRE. AN EXAM REVEALED INDICATIONS THAT BOTH ENGINES WERE OPERATING AT HIGH RPM. A TEARDOWN REVEALED A RIGHT ENGINE FUEL CONTROL BEARING HAD FAILED, WHICH WOULD HAVE ALLOWED IMPROPER MOVEMENT OF THE FUEL CONTROL DRIVE SHAFT. THE PLANE WAS LAST INSPECTED ON 11/25/92 & WAS 13 HRS OVER A REQUIRED 150 HR INSPECTION. A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE FUEL CONTROL BEARINGS HAD NOT BEEN COMPLIED WITH. THE OWNER/PILOT HAD NOT COMPLETED FORMAL GROUND SCHOOL INSTRUCTION ON THE AIRPLANE SYSTEMS & OPERATION. THE PLANE HAD 9 SEATS; 10 OCCUPANTS WERE ABOARD.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.