Beech B19 accident near Addison, Texas, June 28, 1991
On June 28, 1991 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Beech B19, registered N18989, was substantially damaged in an accident near Addison, Texas (Addison airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
ENTRY DOOR OPENING IN FLIGHT, INADEQUATE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES PUBLISHED BY THE MANUFACTURER, AND POOR EMERGENCY TRAINING BY THE STUDENT'S INSTRUCTOR. FACTORS WERE INADEQUATE DESIGN/INSTALLATION OF THE DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM, DETERIORATED AIRPLANE PERFORMANCE, AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 28, 1991 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Addison, Texas · Addison · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech B19 · all B19s on the register
- Registration
- N18989 · no longer on the register · serial MB-870
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT'S DOOR OPENED IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKEOFF. THE TAKEOFF WAS CONTINUED WITH REPEATED ATTEMPTS MADE TO CLOSE THE DOOR. THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER WAS ADVISED OF THE SITUATION BUT AN EMERGENCY WAS NOT DECLARED. WHILE ON AN EXTENDED FINAL APPROACH, WHICH RESULTED FROM ATCT INSTRUCTIONS, CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE WAS LOST DUE TO THE OPEN DOOR. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES AND CAME TO REST IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA. THE INSTRUCTOR HAD NEVER DEMONSTRATED A DOOR OPEN SITUATION IN FLIGHT. BEECHCRAFT HAD ISSUED SPECIFIC PROCEDURES FOR THIS EMERGENCY IN MARCH, 1987, VIA A SAFETY COMMUNIQUE. THESE PROCEDURES WERE NEVER INCORPORATED INTO THE PILOT'S OPERATING HANDBOOK. THE FAA OPERATIONS INSPECTOR, THE OPERATOR, THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND THE STUDENT PILOT HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE SAFETY COMMUNIQUE PROCEDURES.
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: student
- Flight time: 42 hours in all; 42 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,250 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 99°F (37°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N18989 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.