Beech B100 accident near Benavides, TX
On October 26, 2009, a Beech B100 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Benavides, TX. 4 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- October 26, 2009
- Place
- Benavides, TX
- Aircraft
- Beech B100 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 4 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 27.769°N, 97.501°W
- NTSB ID
- 20091026X72148
Official records · CEN10FA028
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- ATC 3 - Factual Report of Group Chairman: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
- ATC 3 - N729MS Radar Data: Document (EXE), on ntsb.gov
- ATC 3 - Houston ARTCC Transcripts: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On October 26, 2009, approximately 1143 central daylight time, a Beech B100 King Air, N729MS, registered to Mazak Properties, Incorporated, and operated by a private pilot, impacted terrain after encountering severe weather near Benavides, Texas. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed. The private pilot and three passengers received fatal injuries and the airplane was destroyed. The flight departed Garner Field Airport (KUVA) Uvalde, Texas, and was destined for Leesburg International Airport (KLEE), Leesburg, Florida. Prior to departure, the pilot received three separate weather briefings from an Automated Flight Service Station (AFSS). A review of these communications revealed that the pilot was provided information regarding the severe weather conditions along his planned route of flight. The pilot expressed his concern about these conditions and altered his route of flight further south so he could maneuver around and through “holes” in the weather. A review of air traffic control (ATC) communications revealed that the accident airplane departed from Uvalde, Texas, about 1058. The pilot contacted Houston Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) sector 59 at 1105:08, and reported that he was at an altitude of 10,200 feet and climbing to 23,000 feet. He also continued to say, "All right if you don't mind helping us we're looking at the radar – it might be better for us to go down toward L
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to avoid severe weather, and the air traffic controller's failure to provide adverse weather avoidance assistance, as required by Federal Aviation Administration directives, both of which led to the airplane's encounter with a severe thunderstorm and the subsequent loss of control and inflight breakup of the airplane.
More accidents in TX
- Kubicek BB85, Jul 30, 2016
- Robertson C-414, Jul 29, 1982
- Textron Aviation B-300, Jun 30, 2019
- Beech B100, Nov 26, 1983
- Consolidated-Vultee PBY-6A, Oct 13, 1984
Browse: Texas · Beech aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
