Beech C-45H accident near Edinburg, Texas, October 6, 1991
On October 6, 1991 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Beech C-45H, registered N166ZA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Edinburg, Texas (Edinburg airport). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
POWER LOSS DUE TO A LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 6, 1991 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Edinburg, Texas · Edinburg
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C-45H · all C-45Hs on the register
- Registration
- N166ZA · no longer on the register · serial AF687
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE WAS OPERATING ON A FERRY PERMIT. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER WAS EXPERIENCED ON THE RIGHT ENGINE DUE TO OIL SYSTEM FAILURE. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A BEAN FIELD ADJACENT TO THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT. THE RIGHT ENGINE SEPARATED FROM THE AIRFRAME DURING THE LANDING BEFORE COMING TO REST.
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: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land
- Flight time: 3,750 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,625 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Jacobs L-6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 31P Independence MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.