Beech D-18S and Beech E18 accident near Dfw Airport, Texas, March 18, 1983
On March 18, 1983 at about 1:10 am local time, 2 aircraft, Beech D-18S (N80017) and Beech E18 (N130L), were involved in the same accident near Dfw Airport, Texas (Dfw Airport). 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 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 18, 1983 · about 1:10 am local time
- Place
- Dfw Airport, Texas · Dfw Airport
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Beech D-18S · all D-18Ss on the register
- Registration
- N80017 · no longer on the register · serial A-77
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
- Aircraft 2
- Beech E18 · all E18s on the register
- Registration
- N130L · no longer on the register · serial E8S-9700
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative for the Beech D-18S final · quoted from the NTSB record
N80017 EXPERIENCED ENGINE TROUBLE AND SHUT DOWN THE LEFT ENGINE ENROUTE FROM AMARILLO, TX. LATER, BECAUSE OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THE PILOT SECURED ALL ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT EXCEPT THE NO.2 RADIO, TRANSPONDER AND ROTATING BEACON. AFTER LANDING, THE PILOT TAXIED CLEAR OF THE RUNWAY BUT COULD NOT TAXI FURTHER DUE TO LACK OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. N130L RETURNING FROM LUBBOCK,TX. AFTER LANDING AT DALLAS-FORT WORTH N130L PROCEEDED TO CROSS RWY 31L AND REDUCED POWER TO TAXI TO THE RAMP. AT THIS TIME HE NOTICED SOMETHING PROTRUDING TOWARD THE LEFT SIDE OF THE TAXIWAY AND APPLIED BRAKES. AS HE REALIZED THE OBJECT WAS AN UNLIT AIRCRAFT WING HIS RIGHT PROPELLER CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE AFT OUTBOARD SECTION OF N80017'S WING. THE PILOT OF N130L WAS NOT ADVISED OF THE POSITION OR CONDITION OF N80017 BY GROUND CONTROL WHEN CLEARED TO TAXI TO THE RAMP AREA.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Beech E18 final · quoted from the NTSB record
N80017 EXPERIENCED ENGINE TROUBLE AND SHUT DOWN THE LEFT ENGINE ENROUTE FROM AMARILLO, TX. LATER, BECAUSE OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THE PILOT SECURED ALL ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT EXCEPT THE NO. 2 RADIO, TRANSPONDER AND ROTATING BEACON AFTER LANDING, THE PILOT TAXIED CLEAR OF THE RUNWAY BUT COULD NOT TAXI FURTHER DUE TO LACK OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. N130L WAS RETURNING FROM LUBBOCK, TX. AFTER LANDING AT DALLAS-FORT WORTH. N130L PROCEEDED TO CROSS RUNWAY 31L AND REDUCED POWER TO TAXI TO THE RAMP. AT THIS TIME HE NOTICED SOMETHING PROTRUDING TOWARD THE LEFT SIDE OF THE TAXIWAY AND APPLIED BRAKES. AS HE REALIZED THE OBJECT WAS AN UNLIT AIRCRAFT WING HIS RIGHT PROPELLER CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE AFT OUTBOARD SECTION OF N80O17'S WING. THE PILOT OF N130L WAS NOT ADVISED OF THE POSITION OR CONDITION OF N80017 BY GROUND CONTROL WHEN CLEARED TO TAXI TO THE RAMP AREA.
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 for the Beech D-18S from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,973 hours in all; 171 in this make and model; 138 in the last 90 days; 1,731 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,707 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, March 16, 1983; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-985 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: ABC Airlines
The flight
- Departed from: AMA Amarillo TX at 11:00 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 31R, 9,000 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 320° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the Beech E18 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,478 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 240 in the last 90 days; 10,478 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 13,394 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, January 23, 1983; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-895 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: ABC Airlines INC.
The flight
- Departed from: LBB Lubbock TX at 11:30 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 35, 11,387 ft by 200 ft
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.