Beech B50 accident near Corsicna, Texas, August 5, 1983
On August 5, 1983 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Beech B50, registered N271D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Corsicna, Texas (Corsicana Muni airport). It was a personal 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
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
- August 5, 1983 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Corsicna, Texas · Corsicana Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech B50 · all B50s on the register
- Registration
- N271D · registry record · serial CH-25
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO EXTEND THE NOSE GEAR PRIOR TO LANDING, SO HE ELECTED TO LAND WITH THE GEAR RETRACTED. WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH, HE CLOSED THE MIXTURES & THROTTLES AND ATTEMPTED TO FEATHER THE PROPS, BUT THE LEFT ENG CONTINUED TO WINDMILL. HE CONTINUED THE APPROACH WITH NO FLAPS, AND REPORTEDLY ARRIVED AT THE RWY WITH AN AIRSPEED OF ABOUT 140 MPH (50 MPH TOO FAST). THE 1ST TOUCHDOWN WAS MADE AT MIDFIELD. HOWEVER, THE PLT SAW THAT HE WOULD BE UNABLE TO STOP ON THE RWY. HE HAD SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED TO LIFT OUT, CLEAR A ROAD & FENCE, THEN TOUCHDOWN IN A CLEAR ZONE FOR RWY 32. AT SOME POINT DURING THE SEQUENCE, THE NOSE GEAR CAME DOWN, THE FUSELAGE WAS WRINKLED & THE PLT'S WINDSHIELD POPPED OUT. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE NOSE GEAR HOUSING, 50-820146, HAD FAILED, WHICH RESULTED IN THE NOSE GEAR MALFUNCTION.
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: 328 hours in all; 151 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 278 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,998 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 11, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental O-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ACT Waco TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 4,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,400 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.