Beech 77 accident near Terrell, Texas, July 22, 1990
On July 22, 1990 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Beech 77, registered N3850A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Terrell, Texas (Klutts Field). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
WRONG RUNWAY SELECTED BY SECOND PILOT. FACTORS WERE: TAILWIND AND INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY PILOT-CFI.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 22, 1990 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Terrell, Texas · Klutts Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 77 · all 77s on the register
- Registration
- N3850A · no longer on the register · serial WA 247
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT COMMENCED A DOWNWIND TAKEOFF. AN UNSATISFACTORY RATE OF CLIMB AND A LEFT DRIFT WERE NOTED UPON LIFTOFF. THE PILOT UNDER TRAINING REQUESTED ASSISTANCE FROM THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT. AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO REJECT THE TAKEOFF. INSUFFICIENT RUNWAY REMAINED TO STOP THE AIRPLANE WHICH DEPARTED THE END OF THE RUNWAY, TRAVERSED A FIELD, CROSSED A ROAD, STRUCK A FENCE THEN CAME TO REST INVERTED.
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 single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,604 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 58 in the last 90 days; 38 in the last 30 days; 506 as pilot in command; 25 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,340 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 12, 1990; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,680 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-234-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: HQZ Mesquite TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 1,800 ft by 30 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:46 pm from RBD, 23 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.