Beech E18S and Beech E18S accident near Dfw Airport, Texas, December 30, 1997
On December 30, 1997 at about 3:52 am local time, 2 aircraft, Beech E18S (N4980V) and Beech E18S (N2069C), were involved in the same accident near Dfw Airport, Texas (Dfw International airport). 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
failure of the pilot in the 2nd airplane (N4980V) to see-and-avoid the standing airplane (N2069C). Related factors were: darkness, and inadequate (vague) instructions issued by the UPS ramp controller.
failure of the pilot in the 2nd airplane (N4980V) to see-and-avoid the standing airplane (N2069C). Related factors were: darkness, and inadequate (vague) instructions issued by the UPS ramp controller.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 30, 1997 · about 3:52 am local time
- Place
- Dfw Airport, Texas · Dfw International
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Beech E18S · all E18Ss on the register
- Registration
- N4980V · no longer on the register · serial BA-156
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
- Aircraft 2
- Beech E18S · all E18Ss on the register
- Registration
- N2069C · registry record · serial BA-430
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative for the Beech E18S final · quoted from the NTSB record
Two Beech E18S airplanes (from same operator) took off 10 minutes apart from the same location on a night cargo flight. They arrived 4 minutes apart & landed on runway 36L. After the 1st plane (N2069C) landed, tower cleared the pilot to 'taxi to the ramp.' Approaching the UPS ramp, the pilot of the 1st plane continued monitoring the tower, but contacted the ramp controller (UPS), using a 2nd radio. He was told by UPS 'to hold short of the ramp.' Meanwhile, the 2nd plane (N4980V) was cleared (by tower) 'to taxi to the ramp.' Subsequently, the 2nd plane collided with the 1st plane, which had stopped on the taxiway short of the cargo ramp. The 1st plane was facing nearly perpendicular to the taxiing airplane. Both planes were equipped with rotating beacons on the lower portion of the fuselage & navigation lights on the wing tips & tail; althought for aircraft approaching from either side, illumination from the tail navigation light on this make/model of plane was blocked by the vertical stabilizers & rudders. UPS holding instructions (to the 1st pilot) did not specify where to hold. The collision occurred in an area that was not visible to the tower. All taxiways were equipped with centerline lighting. The taxiway's centerline lighting & blue edge lights were operational.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Beech E18S final · quoted from the NTSB record
Two Beech E18S airplanes (from same operator) took off 10 minutes apart from the same location on a night cargo flight. They arrived 4 minutes apart & landed on runway 36L. After the 1st plane (N2069C) landed, tower cleared the pilot to 'taxi to the ramp.' Approaching the UPS ramp, the pilot of the 1st plane continued monitoring the tower, but contacted the ramp controller (UPS), using a 2nd radio. He was told by UPS 'to hold short of the ramp.' Meanwhile, the 2nd plane (N4980V) was cleared (by tower) 'to taxi to the ramp.' Subsequently, the 2nd plane collided with the 1st plane, which had stopped on the taxiway short of the cargo ramp. The 1st plane was facing nearly perpendicular to the taxiing airplane. Both planes were equipped with rotating beacons on the lower portion of the fuselage & navigation lights on the wing tips & tail; althought for aircraft approaching from either side, illumination from the tail navigation light on this make/model of plane was blocked by the vertical stabilizers & rudders. UPS holding instructions (to the 1st pilot) did not specify where to hold. The collision occurred in an area that was not visible to the tower. All taxiways were equipped with centerline lighting. The taxiway's centerline lighting & blue edge lights were operational.
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 for the Beech E18S from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 15,000 hours in all; 4,000 in this make and model; 171 in the last 90 days; 47 in the last 30 days; 14,800 as pilot in command; 2,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 17, 1997; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-985-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SPG Springdale AR at 2:00 am
- Destination: DFW
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 36L, 11,388 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 360° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 3:50 am from DFW, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Beech E18S from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,215 hours in all; 127 in this make and model; 112 in the last 90 days; 70 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 17, 1997; 88 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-985-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SPG Springdale AR at 2:10 am
- Destination: DFW
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 36L, 11,388 ft by 150 ft
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 N4980V the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
1983-04-16LAX83LA200 · accident near Davis, CA · substantial damage · no injuries
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.