Beech 200 accident near Indianapolis, Indiana, February 1, 1991
On February 1, 1991 at about 5:13 am local time, a Beech 200, registered N5584M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Indianapolis, Indiana. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
SEPARATION OF THE AFT, UPPER, ACCESSORY CASE COWL ASSEMBLY FROM THE AIRPLANE, AND INADEQUATE AIRFRAME EQUIPMENT PROVIDED BY THE MANUFACTURER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 1, 1991 · about 5:13 am local time
- Place
- Indianapolis, Indiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 200 · all 200s on the register
- Registration
- N5584M · no longer on the register · serial BB1368
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE TWIN-ENGINED TURBO-PROP AIRPLANE WAS DESCENDING FROM 20,000 FEET MSL TO 7,000 FEET MSL WHEN THE LEFT ENGINE AFT, UPPER ACCESSORY CASE COWL SEPARATED FROM ITS MOUNT. THE COWL ASSEMLBY STRUCK THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FUSELAGE, THE VERTICAL STABILIZER, AND THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER. THE FUSELAGE STRIKE CAUSED A RAPID DECOMPRESSION. THE AIRPLANE WAS LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,900 hours in all; 100 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 12,500 lb
- Seats: 9
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W PT6A-42 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BDL Windsor Locks CT at 2:00 am
- Destination: IND
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 4:53 am from IND, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.