Amateur-built DHC-6-300 accident near Fort Worth, Texas, January 11, 2001
On January 11, 2001 at about 10:14 pm local time, a amateur-built DHC-6-300, registered N824ED, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fort Worth, Texas (Fort Worth Meacham airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the loss of power to both engines for undetermined reasons during approach. Contributing factors were the pilot's failure to properly position the fuel selector in accordance with the landing checklist and the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 11, 2001 · about 10:14 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Worth, Texas · Fort Worth Meacham · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DHC-6-300
- Registration
- N824ED · no longer on the register · serial 824
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight was cleared for an ILS approach and as the airplane was approaching the point of glideslope intercept, both engines lost power. The airplane was vectored toward a nearby airport; however, after exiting the clouds, the pilot realized that the flight could not make the airport. The pilot initiated a forced landing to a field, and during the landing roll, the airplane crossed a road, and the right wing struck a tree. Subsequently, the nose landing gear separated when it struck a dirt berm. The airplane came to a stop upright. Examination of the fuel system revealed the aft main tank was 1/3-1/2 full of fuel, and the forward main tank 90% full of fuel. Examination of the cockpit revealed that the fuel selector for the main tanks was found in the NORMAL position. With the selector in the NORMAL position, the aft main tank supplies fuel to the left engine, and the forward main tank supplies fuel to the right engine. Examination of the fuel system revealed no discrepancies. The fuel boost pumps were activated and fuel flowed from the fuel supply lines. The left and right airframe fuel filters and the left and right engine fuel filters contained fuel. Examination of both engines revealed no anomalies that would have precluded the operation of the engines. The pilot reported that at the time of the dual engine failure, the fuel selector was selecting the aft tank, thereby feeding both engines from the aft fuel tank. He further reported that when both engines failed, he immediately switched the fuel selector to "NORMAL". The aircraft's flight manual directs the pilot to position the fuel selector to "NORMAL" prior to takeoff and for landing.
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; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,344 hours in all; 214 in this make and model; 214 in the last 90 days; 103 in the last 30 days; 3,195 as pilot in command; 806 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 20, 1999
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Other crew
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Other crew
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,011.5 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, November 21, 2000; 122.3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 12,500 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W PT6A-27 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Earth Data Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: AEX Alexandria LA at 7:15 pm
- Destination: FTW Fort Worth TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 34R
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,100 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from FTW, 22 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 3 |
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.