Beech E18S accident near Terrell, Texas, January 2, 1986
On January 2, 1986 at about 1:30 pm local time, a Beech E18S, registered N27Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Terrell, Texas (Terrell airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- January 2, 1986 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Terrell, Texas · Terrell · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech E18S · all E18Ss on the register
- Registration
- N27Y · no longer on the register · serial BA-388
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THE ACFT YAWED LEFT ON TAKEOFF AND DESPITE ATTEMPTED REMEDIAL ACTION THE ACFT WOULD NOT CLEAR ODSTACLESALONG THE FLT PATH. PWR WAS REDUCED AND A STRAIGHT IN LANDING WAS MADE IN A FLD APRX 1/4 MILE NORTH OF THE RWY. A WITNESS REPORTED THE ACFT WAS STILL IN GROUND EFFECT AT A POINT APRX 3000 FT DOWN THE RWY. WITNESS CONTINUED TO STATE THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN NEAR THE END OF THE RWY, FULL PWR WAS ADDED AND THE ACFT WAS PULLED UP IN AN ATTEMPT TO CLIMB. THE ACFT THEN MUSHED TO GROUND IMPACT IN A FIELD. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE ACFT WAS 269 LBS OVER MAX GROSS WEIGHT AT TAKEOFF AND THE AFT CG WAS 1.7 INCHES BEHIND THE AFT DATUM LIMIT. A LINE BOY WHO REFUELED THE ACFT JUST PRIOR TO THE ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF STATED THE ACFT WAS COVERED WITH FROST.
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; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,600 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 135 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,400 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 21, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 9,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-985-AN14B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Wal-Mart Stores, INC.
The flight
- Destination: Ada OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 4,300 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.