Beech BE-90 accident near Columbus, Ohio, March 11, 1984
On March 11, 1984 at about 6:10 am local time, a Beech BE-90, registered N642DH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Columbus, Ohio (Ohio State University airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 7 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 11, 1984 · about 6:10 am local time
- Place
- Columbus, Ohio · Ohio State University · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 7 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech BE-90
- Registration
- N642DH · no longer on the register · serial LJ-420
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE TAKING OFF ON RWY 27L, THE ACFT CONTACTED A RIDGE OF SNOW AT THE INTERSECTION OF RWY 14, WHERE RWY 14 HAD BEEN PLOWED. AFTER STRIKING THE SNOW, THE ACFT DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT & THE PLT NOTED A REDUCTION OF POWER FROM THE RIGHT ENG. THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR THEN WENT INTO DEEPER SNOW WHICH ACCELERATED THE RIGHT TURN. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE NOSE GEAR ENCOUNTERED AN ICE COVERED DRIFT OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RWY & COLLAPSED.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,590 hours in all; 5,340 in this make and model; 46 in the last 90 days; 6,340 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 3, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 9,650 lb
- Seats: 9
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W PT6A-20 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: MIA Miami FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 27L, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 230° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,800 ft; not recorded at 1,800 ft
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 am from CMH, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.