Beech C-45H accident near Fentress, Texas, September 5, 1993
On September 5, 1993, a Beech C-45H, registered N125MB, suffered minor damage in an accident near Fentress, Texas. It was a skydiving flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed; 10 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT OF THE SKYDIVER'S RESERVE PARACHUTE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 5, 1993
- Place
- Fentress, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed; 10 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C-45H · all C-45Hs on the register
- Registration
- N125MB · registry record · serial 51-11729
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Skydiving flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE RESERVE PARACHUTE OF ONE OF THE SKYDIVERS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED AND PULLED HIM OUT OF THE AIRPLANE, STRIKING THE LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER. EXAMINATION OF THE RESERVE PARACHUTE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY FAULT WITH THE AUTOMATIC SIGNALING DEVICE.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,766 hours in all; 328 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 2,610 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,225 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1993; 39 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 10,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-985-14B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sky Dive San Marcos, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 045° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 9 |
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.