Beech B accident near Ferris, Texas, March 1, 2018
On March 1, 2018 at about 11:00 am local time, a 1982 Beech B, registered N77MM, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Ferris, Texas. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper preflight inspection of the fuel level, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to lower the landing gear before the emergency landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 1, 2018 · about 11:00 am local time
- Place
- Ferris, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech B 60, built 1982
- Registration
- N77MM · registry record · serial P-587
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot in the multi-engine, retractable landing gear airplane reported that, during an instrument flight rules cross-country flight, about 5,000 ft above mean sea level, the left engine surged several times and he performed an emergency engine shutdown. Shortly afterward, the right engine lost power. During the emergency descent, the airplane struck treetops, and landed hard in a field with the landing gear retracted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the engine mounts, and the lower fuselage. The pilot reported that he had requested 200 gallons of fuel from his home airport fixed base operator, but they did not fuel the airplane. The pilot did not check the fuel quantity during his preflight inspection. According to the Federal Aviation Administration Airplane Flying Handbook, Chapter 2, page 2-7, pilots must always positively confirm the fuel quantity by visually inspecting the fuel level in each tank. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Fuel exhaustion during enroute defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
- Hard landing during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Preflight inspection › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Not inspected
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main landing gear › Not used/operated
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,400 hours in all; 2,200 in this make and model
- Last flight review: July 27, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (waiver time limited special)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,210 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, December 1, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 6,775 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming TIO-541 (piston); 800 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming TIO-541 (piston); 800 hours total
- Operator: Mike & Mayo Partners LP
The flight
- Departed from: ADS Dallas TX at 4:30 pm
- Destination: LXY Mexia TX
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,800 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from KCRS, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on June 19, 2018. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.