Beech RC-45J accident near Houston, Texas, August 20, 1987
On August 20, 1987 at about 1:00 am local time, a Beech RC-45J, registered N11249, was substantially damaged in an accident near Houston, Texas (Weiser 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 20, 1987 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Houston, Texas · Weiser
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech RC-45J
- Registration
- N11249 · no longer on the register · serial 23801
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS PRACTICING LANDINGS, ALMOST TO A FULL STOP, WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. HE HAD ASKED A COMMERCIAL PILOT TO ACCOMPANY HIM ON THIS FLIGHT. THE PLT STATED THAT ON THE FOURTH LANDING THE LEFT MAIN GEAR WENT SLIGHTLY OFF THE LEFT EDGE OF THE RUNWAY AND WHEN THE PLT CORRECTED, THE AIRCRAFT SEEMED TO JUMP OR BOUNCE AND ENTERED A SKID TO THE RIGHT WHICH WAS COMPLETELY UNCONTROLLABLE. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE TAIL WHEEL WAS FOUND IN THE UNLOCKED POSITION AND WAS SWIVELED TO A POSITION FOR A HARD RIGHT TURN EVEN THOUGH THE LOCKING PIN WAS IN THE LOCKED POSITION. APPARENTLY THE TAIL WHEEL BECAME UNLOCKED DURING OR AFTER THE THIRD LANDING DUE TO EXCESS WEAR ON THE PIN AND/OR THE PIN HOLE AND BECAME COCKED SO THAT DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST WHEN THE TAIL WHEEL TOUCHED DOWN.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all; 2 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 8,625 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-985 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: T17 Houston TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 3,467 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.