Beech F33A accident near Del Rio, Texas, April 24, 1998
On April 24, 1998 at about 2:15 am local time, a Beech F33A, registered N2179L, was destroyed in an accident near Del Rio, Texas (Del Rio International airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's loss of control during a go-around after impacting approach light poles on initial approach. A contributing factor was the prevailing dark night light condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 24, 1998 · about 2:15 am local time
- Place
- Del Rio, Texas · Del Rio International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech F33A · all F33As on the register
- Registration
- N2179L · no longer on the register · serial CE-667
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The non-instrument rated private pilot completed a 1.3-hour dark night cross-country flight. Two witnesses reported observing the airplane attempting to execute an apparent "go-around" on runway 13, which was 5,100 feet in length. The two witnesses observed that the aircraft made a right turn near mid-field, followed by the nose of the airplane dropping towards the ground. Evidence at the site showed that the airplane impacted the ground in a nose low attitude and a post impact fire ensued. Flight control continuity was established. No anomalies were found with the airframe or engine during examination. Ground scars corresponding to the main landing gear tires for the airplane were found 1,266 feet short of the landing threshold for runway 13. Additionally, five light poles were found knocked down short of the landing threshold. The aforementioned physical evidence shows that the airplane had apparently landed short of runway 13, impacted the approach lighting system, executed a go-around, and subsequently impacted the ground.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 276 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,763 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 2, 1998; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BA (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 2R8 Port Aransas TX at 1:00 am
- Destination: DRT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 5,100 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 130° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 174°F (79°C), dew point 118°F (48°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:35 am from DRT
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 N2179L 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.