Embraer EMB-120 incident near College Station, Texas, August 25, 1990
On August 25, 1990 at about 12:10 pm local time, a Embraer EMB-120, registered N33701, was involved in an incident near College Station, Texas (Easterwood Field). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 8 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PROPELLER AND ENGINE (POWERPLANT) OVERSPEED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 25, 1990 · about 12:10 pm local time
- Place
- College Station, Texas · Easterwood Field
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 8 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Embraer EMB-120 · all EMB-120s on the register
- Registration
- N33701 · no longer on the register · serial 120.077
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON AUGUST 25, 1990, AT APPROXIMATELY 0710 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, AN EMBRAER EMB-120, N33701, EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE AND PROPELLER OVERSPEED DURING INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF FROM COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS. AFTER THE EFFECTED ENGINE WAS SECURED AND THE PROPELLER WAS FEATHERED, THE PILOT PERFORMED AN UNEVENTFUL PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. THE AIRPLANE WAS OPERATING AS CONTINENTAL EXPRESS FLIGHT 2427 ON A SCHEDULED COMMUTER PASSENGER ROUTE FROM EASTERWOOD AIRPORT TO HOUSTON'S INTERCONTINENTAL AIRPORT. AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED, AND VMC PREVAILED FOR THE 14 CFR PART 135 OPERATION.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 12,500 lb
- Seats: 32
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W PW112 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CLL at 12:10 pm
- Destination: IAH Houston TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 7:10 am
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 6 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N33701 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.