Beech 58 accident near Pensacola, Florida, February 2, 1990
On February 2, 1990 at about 5:32 pm local time, a Beech 58, registered N431BR, was destroyed in an accident near Pensacola, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IN FLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 2, 1990 · about 5:32 pm local time
- Place
- Pensacola, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech 58 · all 58s on the register
- Registration
- N431BR · registry record · serial TH-435
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
BFR DEPG ON A HUNTING TRIP, THE PLT & PSGR LOADED THE ACFT WITH BAGGAGE, WHICH INCLUDED 4 DOGS & THEIR CAGES. BFR TKOF, THE PSGR STRAPPED HIMSELF IN THE RGT FNT SEAT. THE PLT TOOK OFF WITH AN IFR FLT PLN IN IMC CONDS. SHORTLY AFTER TKOF, THE ACFT CRASHED ABT 1-1/2 MI SOUTH OF THE ARPT. A WITNESS SAID THE ACFT SOUNDED LWR THAN NML WITH THE ENGS AT HIGHER THAN CRUISE PWR SETTING. HE INDCD THE ACFT CIRCLED HIS HOUSE, THEN THE SPD INCREASED. HE SAW THE ACFT COME OUT OF CLD BASES IN A NOSE DWN, RGT BANK ATTITUDE. THE ACFT CRASHED ON WOODED TRRN, HIT A HOUSE & BURNED. IT WAS DESTROYED BY IMPACT & GND FIRE; THE OCCUPANTS WERE FATALLY INJURED. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE/MALFUNCTION WAS FND. THE CTL YOKE WAS FND PSND TO THE LEFT (PLT'S SIDE). THE PLT'S BLOOD TESTED NEGATIVE FOR DRUGS. ALTHO HIS BLOOD TESTED POSITIVE FOR ETHANOL, THERE WAS AN INDCN OF POST-MORTEM PRODUCTION OF ETHANOL (PUTREFACTION). MED RECORDS SHOWED THE PLT HAD BEEN TREATED FOR HYPERTENSION WITH THE DRUG ATENOLOL; TOX TESTS SHOWED THE PRESENCE OF ATENOLOL IN URINE, BUT NOT IN BLOOD.
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; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 4,017 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 5,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-C (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: PNS at 5:27 pm
- Destination: LCH Lake Charles LA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 200 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:38 pm from PNS, 2 miles away
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.
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.