Beech C55 accident near Weatherford, Texas, September 5, 1990
On September 5, 1990 at about 12:15 pm local time, a Beech C55, registered N666DF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Weatherford, Texas (Parker County airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FUEL STARVATION INDUCED POWER LOSS TO THE LEFT ENGINE, WHICH RESULTED FROM THE IMPROPER FUEL TANK BEING SELECTED BY THE PIC.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 5, 1990 · about 12:15 pm local time
- Place
- Weatherford, Texas · Parker County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C55
- Registration
- N666DF · no longer on the register · serial TE-160
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE MULTI-ENGINE AIRPLANE WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT WHEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER OCCURRED ON THE RIGHT ENGINE THE PILOT RECEIVED CLEARANCE FROM ATC TO A NEARBY AIRPORT. THE PILOT ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AND SET UP FOR APPROACH. HE EXECUTED A GO- AROUND OVER THE RUNWAY. AS HE APPLIED POWER, THE LEFT ENGINE SURGED AND AIRSPEED WAS LOST. THE PILOT DECIDED TO LAND ON A ROAD, BUT STRUCK THE TOPS OF SEVERAL TREES DURING THE DESCENT. THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD ON THE ROAD AND SLID INTO A TREE AND MAIL BOX POLE. FAA INSPECTORS DISCOVERED THE AUXILIARY FUEL TANKS EMPTY AND FUEL SELECTOR SWITCHES POSITIONED TO THE AUXILIARY FUEL TANKS. MAIN FUEL TANKS WERE NEARLY FULL.
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; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,230 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 425 in the last 90 days; 80 in the last 30 days; 1,060 as pilot in command; 389 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 6, 1990
- Maximum gross weight: 5,300 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-C/CB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DAL Dallas TX at 11:50 am
- Destination: ABI Abilene TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 17, 2,889 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.