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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

February 26, 1982 · Beech D18S · N8517Z

Dallas, TX

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
February 26, 1982
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Dallas, TX
Aircraft
Beech D18S
Tail Number
N8517Z
Operator
Jim Billingsley
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
FTW82FPA11

During a night, ILS approach, the plane struck a powerline about two miles short of the runway after the pilot was provided a low altitude alert. The left engine lost power and was feathered. The pilot feared possible gear damage and left it extended. Unable to maintain altitude, the plane crashed before reaching the runway. The pilot reported ice accumulating on his windshield during the descent, but stated he could see quite well through the left quarter. He stated he was flying the approach with a glide slope indication of one dot high when he leveled off with an altitude indication of about 800 ft MSL. Before crashing, the pilot replied to an ATC query that he was in contact with the ground, had the runway in sight, had ice on his windshield, and his glideslope was not working. A check of the glide slope receiver revealed it was inoperative with a one dot high indication. The altimeters were checked and showed only a 70 ft difference. Elevation of the crash site was 596 ft MSL.

Full Narrative

DURING A NIGHT, ILS APPROACH, THE PLANE STRUCK A POWERLINE ABOUT TWO MILES SHORT OF THE RUNWAY AFTER THE PILOT WAS PROVIDED A LOW ALTITUDE ALERT. THE LEFT ENGINE LOST POWER AND WAS FEATHERED. THE PILOT FEARED POSSIBLE GEAR DAMAGE AND LEFT IT EXTENDED. UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE, THE PLANE CRASHED BEFORE REACHING THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT REPORTED ICE ACCUMULATING ON HIS WINDSHIELD DURING THE DESCENT, BUT STATED HE COULD SEE QUITE WELL THROUGH THE LEFT QUARTER. HE STATED HE WAS FLYING THE APPROACH WITH A GLIDE SLOPE INDICATION OF ONE DOT HIGH WHEN HE LEVELED OFF WITH AN ALTITUDE INDICATION OF ABOUT 800 FT MSL. BEFORE CRASHING, THE PILOT REPLIED TO AN ATC QUERY THAT HE WAS IN CONTACT WITH THE GROUND, HAD THE RUNWAY IN SIGHT, HAD ICE ON HIS WINDSHIELD, AND HIS GLIDESLOPE WAS NOT WORKING. A CHECK OF THE GLIDE SLOPE RECEIVER REVEALED IT WAS INOPERATIVE WITH A ONE DOT HIGH INDICATION. THE ALTIMETERS WERE CHECKED AND SHOWED ONLY A 70 FT DIFFERENCE. ELEVATION OF THE CRASH SITE WAS 596 FT MSL.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time22:00 CST
Nearest AirportDallas Airport (0nm N)
Runway35R
Runway Length11388 ft
Runway Width200 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBeech D18S
Tail NumberN8517Z
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorJim Billingsley
Operating RulePart 135
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsP&W · R-985 · Reciprocating · 985
Seats10

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 57 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDark Night
Wind304° @ 11 kt
Visibility6 sm
CeilingOvercast 700 ft
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg

Appendix: Source Data