Beech B90 accident near Okeechobee, Florida, January 5, 1994
On January 5, 1994 at about 11:29 pm local time, a Beech B90, registered N230TW, was destroyed in an accident near Okeechobee, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 10 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER REMEDIAL ACTION CONCERNING A RIGHT ENGINE POWER ANOMALY, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED DURING GO-AROUND FROM AN ABORTED PRECAUTIONARY LANDING, WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL AND AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: FAILURE OF THE OWNER/OPERATOR/PILOT TO ASSURE PROPER MAINTENANCE INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT, FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH A SERVICE BULLETIN CONCERNING THE ENGINE FUEL CONTROLS, SUBSEQUENT BEARING FAILURE IN THE RIGHT ENGINE FUEL CONTROL, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 5, 1994 · about 11:29 pm local time
- Place
- Okeechobee, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 10 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech B90 · all B90s on the register
- Registration
- N230TW · no longer on the register · serial LJ-445
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT (OR PILOT-RATED PASSENGER) REPORTED AN 'INDICATION' PROBLEM & SAID THEY INTENDED TO LAND AT OKEECHOBEE, BUT COULDN'T FIND THE AIRPORT. THEY THEN REPORTED ENGINE TROUBLE & SAID THAT THEY WOULD TRY TO LAND ON A ROAD. THEY CIRCLED THE AREA & APPROACHED A DIRT ROAD WITH LANDING LIGHTS ON. A CAR WAS PROCEEDING ON THE ROAD IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THE PLANE BEGAN TO CLIMB, & IT ENTERED A LEFT TURN. IT THEN ROLLED INTO A STEEP RIGHT BANK, DESCENDED NOSE DOWN, CRASHED & WAS CONSUMED BY FIRE. AN EXAM REVEALED INDICATIONS THAT BOTH ENGINES WERE OPERATING AT HIGH RPM. A TEARDOWN REVEALED A RIGHT ENGINE FUEL CONTROL BEARING HAD FAILED, WHICH WOULD HAVE ALLOWED IMPROPER MOVEMENT OF THE FUEL CONTROL DRIVE SHAFT. THE PLANE WAS LAST INSPECTED ON 11/25/92 & WAS 13 HRS OVER A REQUIRED 150 HR INSPECTION. A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE FUEL CONTROL BEARINGS HAD NOT BEEN COMPLIED WITH. THE OWNER/PILOT HAD NOT COMPLETED FORMAL GROUND SCHOOL INSTRUCTION ON THE AIRPLANE SYSTEMS & OPERATION. THE PLANE HAD 9 SEATS; 10 OCCUPANTS WERE ABOARD.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 12,000 hours in all; 130 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,072 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, November 25, 1992; 163 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,650 lb
- Seats: 9
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W PT6A-20 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: ISM Kissimmee FL at 11:01 pm
- Destination: OPF Opa-Locka FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 360° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:51 pm from VRB
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.