Beech E-55 accident near Longview, Texas, March 1, 1984
On March 1, 1984 at about 2:41 am local time, a Beech E-55, registered N1791W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Longview, Texas. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 2 people had minor injuries. 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 1, 1984 · about 2:41 am local time
- Place
- Longview, Texas
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech E-55 · all E-55s on the register
- Registration
- N1791W · no longer on the register · serial 95-E55
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE LEFT ENGINE CEASED OPERATING. A SHALLOW TURN BACK TO THE AIRPORT WAS BEING MADE WHEN THE RIGHTENGINE CEASED OPERATING. A FIELD WAS CHOSEN FOR A FORCED LANDING AND AT TOUCHDOWN A HARD LANDING OCCURRED. INVESTIGATIONREVEALED THAT THE PILOT TOOK OFF ON THE AUXILIARY FUEL TANKS. THE RIGHT AND LEFT AUXILIARY FUEL TANKS CONTAINED 1 1/2 GALLONS AND 3 GALLONS RESPECTIVELY. NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN EITHER ENGINES FUEL SYSTEM. THE RIGHT AND LEFT MAIN FUEL TANKS CONTAINED 29 AND 24 GALLONS OF FUEL RESPECTIVELY.
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: 2,009 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 140 in the last 90 days; 1,906 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,700 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 1, 1981; 156 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Mid America Airways INC
The flight
- Destination: TYR Tyler TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 170° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:00 am from GGG
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.