Beech D18S accident near Brookston, Texas, October 1, 1992
On October 1, 1992 at about 3:25 pm local time, a Beech D18S, registered N90460, was substantially damaged in an accident near Brookston, Texas. It was a personal 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
SMOKE TRAILING FROM THE LEFT ENGINE FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON(S). FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 1, 1992 · about 3:25 pm local time · cases in 1992
- Place
- Brookston, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech D18S · all D18Ss on the register
- Registration
- N90460 · registry record · serial 937
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT NOTICED BLACK SMOKE TRAILING FROM THE LEFT ENGINE. SUSPECTING A FIRE, HE ELECTED TO LAND STRAIGHT AHEAD IN AN OPEN PASTURE. THE PASTURE WAS WET AND SLIGHTLY DOWNHILL MAKING BRAKING INEFFECTIVE. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A LARGE TREE WITH THE LEFT WING, SPINNING THE AIRPLANE 180 DEG INTO A FENCE ROW. NO EVIDENCE OF AN INFLIGHT FIRE WAS FOUND ON THE LEFT ENGINE.
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; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 26,000 hours in all; 200 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,610 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 15, 1992; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 10,500 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-985 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 40F Brookston TX at 3:20 pm
- Destination: 40F
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N90460 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Beechcraft D18 55 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Beechcraft 6 aircraft on the register
- Engine: P&W R-985 1,593 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Accidents and incidents in Texas 6,244 since 1982 · 1,061 in the last ten years
- Texas 29,986 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/FTW93LA001.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.