Beech 95 accident near Floydada, Texas, November 11, 1989
On November 11, 1989, a Beech 95, registered N17AT, was substantially damaged in an accident near Floydada, Texas (Floydada Municipal airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PROPELLER ATTACHMENT BOLTS DUE TO FATIGUE IN FOUR OF THE BOLTS AND OVERLOAD IN ANOTHER. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER AND THE DETERIORATED AIRPLANE CONTROL/PREFORMANCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 11, 1989
- Place
- Floydada, Texas · Floydada Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 95 · all 95s on the register
- Registration
- N17AT · no longer on the register · serial TD107
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE THE AIRPLANE WAS AT CRUISE, THE RIGHT PROPELLER SPINNER FELL OFF. THREE OR FOUR MINUTES LATER, THE RIGHT PROPELLER CAME OFF AND CUT INTO THE NOSE OF THE AIRPLANE. WITH NO ELECTRICAL POWER, AND DETERIORATED AIRPLANE CONTROL, THE PILOT MADE A WHEELS-UP LANDING ON THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. THE RIGHT PROPELLER AND THE CENTER OF THE STARTER RING WERE NOT RECOVERED. FIVE OF THE PROPELLER ATTACHMENT BOLTS REMAINED IN THE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT FLANGE. LABORATORY VISUAL INSPECTION INDICATED FOUR OF THESE BOLTS FAILED FROM FATIGUE AND THE FIFTH FAILED FROM OVERLOAD.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,120 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 345 in the last 90 days; 140 in the last 30 days; 995 as pilot in command; 550 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 7, 1989
- Maximum gross weight: 4,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: B & H Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: F67 Grand Prairie TX at 10:45 pm
- Destination: Q41
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,700 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 170° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N17AT 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.