Beech B-55 accident near Detroit, Michigan, May 29, 1990
On May 29, 1990, a Beech B-55, registered N8390N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Detroit, Michigan (Detroit City airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S EXECUTION OF A TURN SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF RESULTING IN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL STARVATION AND THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S EXECUTION OF A TURN BACK TO THE AIRPORT RESULTING IN FUEL STARVATION OF THE SECOND ENGINE WHICH RESULTED IN A FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 29, 1990
- Place
- Detroit, Michigan · Detroit City · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech B-55 · all B-55s on the register
- Registration
- N8390N · no longer on the register · serial TC-1091
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE TAKEOFF CLIMB, PILOT WAS IN RIGHT TURN AT 100 FEET AGL AND 140 MPH WHEN POWER WAS LOST IN THE LEFT ENGINE. PILOT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A TURN TO THE LEFT TO RETURN TO THE FIELD AND LOST POWER IN THE RIGHT ENGINE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED TANKS IN EACH WING WERE APPROXIMATELY ONE-HALF FULL. NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN EITHER ENGINE FROM ENGINE DRIVEN FUEL PUMP TO FLOW DIVIDER. TURNING TAKEOFFS ARE A PROHIBITED MANEUVER IN THIS AIRCRAFT DUE TO THE UNBAFFLED TANK CONFIGURATION.
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: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,403 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 99 in the last 90 days; 32 in the last 30 days; 1,247 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,256 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1990; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DET
- Destination: PTK Pontiac MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 5,040 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 030° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.