Beech 36 accident near Baird, Texas, September 8, 1990
On September 8, 1990 at about 8:14 pm local time, a Beech 36, registered N169DD, was destroyed in an accident near Baird, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND FAILED TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE WHILE FLYING IN SEVERE WEATHER AND INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE A FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 8, 1990 · about 8:14 pm local time
- Place
- Baird, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech 36 · all 36s on the register
- Registration
- N169DD · registry record · serial E-2536
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT 1444 THE PILOT REQUESTED A DEVIATION FOR WEATHER. AT 1510 THE PILOT ACKNOWLEDGED A REQUESTED CLEARANCE TO DESCEND FROM 10,000 TO 6,000 FEET. THERE WERE NO ADDITIONAL TRANSMISSIONS RECEIVED. THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED ON A SOUTHERLY TRACK AT AN AVERAGE AND MAXIMUM RATE OF DESCENT OF 5,137 AND 8,250 FPM RESPECTIVELY. GROUND SPEED AVERAGED 160 MPH. IMPACT OCCURRED IN A WINGS LEVEL ATTITUDE ABOUT 20 DEG NOSE LOW. THERE WERE THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AREA WITH LIGHTNING, HEAVY RAIN, HIGH WINDS, AND CLOUD TOPS TO 45,000 FEET. NUMEROUS BOTTLES OF INSULIN, SYRINGES WITH NEEDLES, AND A DIABETIC TEST KIT WERE FOUND IN THE PILOT'S BAGGAGE. THE COPILOT'S TOXICOLOGY EXAM REVEALED SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF PHENOBARBITAL, A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE. THE COPILOT WAS NOT INSTRUMENT RATED. AUTOPSIES OF BOTH PILOTS IDENTIFIED A LACK OF HAND OR FEET INJURIES.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 603 hours in all; 114 in this make and model; 86 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 300 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,650 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-550-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SAT San Antonio TX at 6:52 pm
- Destination: FRD Frederick OK
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 40 knots, gusting 50
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number FTW90FA176.