Beech V35A accident near Midlothian, Texas, December 18, 1984
On December 18, 1984, a Beech V35A, registered N7460N, was destroyed in an accident near Midlothian, Texas. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- December 18, 1984
- Place
- Midlothian, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech V35A · all V35As on the register
- Registration
- N7460N · no longer on the register · serial D-8848
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
N7460N, OPERATING AS MID-AMERICA FLT 401, CRASHED WHILE ON AN IFR FLT PLAN ENROUTE TO CORPUS CHRISTI, TX. AFTER HAVING BEEN VECTORED AROUND A HEAVY THUNDERSTORM & CLEARED DIRECT TO WACO, TX. THE PLT CONTACTED FORT WORTH CENTER & STATED THAT HE HAD 'LOST MY ARTIFICIAL HORIZON & MY DIRCTIONAL GYRO.' AFTER ASKING THE PLT IF THE ACFT HAD A COMPASS & RECEIVING AN AFFIRMATIVE REPLY THE ACFT WAS INSTRUCTED TO TURN TO A 010 HEADING. SHORTLY AFTER, THE RADAR TARGET WAS LOST. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE PLT HAD BEEN EMPLOYED BY MID-AMERICA FOR APROX 3 WKS AS A NIGHT REFUELER. ON THE DATE OF THE ACC THE PLT WAS REPORTEDLY GIVEN A 1.2 HR PART 135 CHECK RIDE BY THE COMPANY ASST CHIEF PLT. THE VACUUM PUMP DRIVE WAS FOUND SHEARED WITH THE SHEARED ENDS POLISHED, INDICATING THAT THE DRAYING END WAS STILL ROTATING AFTER SHAFT SEPARATION. ONE VACUUM DRIVEN GYRO WAS FOUND SHOWING NO EVIDENCE OF ROTATION AT IMPACT. THE GYRO FROM THE ELECTRICALLY POWERED TURN & BANK SHOWED NO SIGNS OF ROTATION AT IMPACT.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,417 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 30, 1984; 61 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RBD Dallas TX
- Destination: CRP Corpus Christi TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 110° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.