On October 1, 1992, a Beech D18S (registration N90460) operated by Burchinal, Issac N., Jr. was involved in an aviation accident near Brookston, TX. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's decision to land in a wet, downhill pasture after noticing black smoke from the left engine, which resulted in the airplane striking a tree and fence row due to ineffective braking. No evidence of an inflight fire was found on the left engine. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
After noticing black smoke trailing from the left engine shortly after takeoff, the pilot executed an emergency landing in a wet pasture. The aircraft struck a tree and fence row due to ineffective braking.
What happened
Shortly after takeoff, the pilot observed black smoke trailing from the left engine. Suspecting an engine fire, he elected to land straight ahead in an open pasture. The pasture was wet and slightly downhill, making braking ineffective. The airplane struck a large tree with the left wing, spinning the airplane 180 degrees into a fence row.
The investigation
No evidence of an inflight fire was found on the left engine.
Findings
The primary factors contributing to this accident were the black smoke from the left engine and the wet and slightly downhill terrain which made braking ineffective.
Probable cause
The pilot's decision to land in a wet, downhill pasture after noticing black smoke from the left engine, which resulted in the airplane striking a tree and fence row due to ineffective braking. No evidence of an inflight fire was found on the left engine.
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