# Accident 19991222036949A: Beech 95B55, Hermiston, OR, December 22, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 22, 1999, 19:00 local time
- Place: Hermiston, OR
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 45.8509° N, 119.2109° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.8509&lon=-119.2109&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8129R, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8129R-2000-06-21) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech 95-B55 (T42A) (registry code 1152706, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-95-b55-t42a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 95B55
- Reported engine: CONT IO470L
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Pilot flight hours: 2,870 total, 346 in this make and model, 45 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA00FA033](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA00FA033) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991222036949A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.19) ON DECEMBER 22, 1999, ABOUT 1900 PACIFIC STANDARD TIME, A BEECHCRAFT BARON, N8129R, OPERATED BY AND REGISTERED TO THE PRIVATE PILOT AS A 14CFR91 BUSINESS FLIGHT, WAS DESTROYED WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN APPROXIMATELY 1/4 OF A MILE SOUTHEAST OF THE HERMISTON MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, HERMISTON, OREGON. INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND AN INSTRUMENT FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED.  THE PRIVATE PILOT AND HIS PASSENGER RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED BY IMPACT FORCES AND THERE WAS ELT ACTIVATION.  THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM THE HERMISTON AIRPORT JUST PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. WHILE ON THE GROUND AT HERMISTON, THE PILOT WAS ISSUED AN IFR CLEARANCE FROM HERMISTON TO MADRAS, OREGON, WITH A VOID TIME OF 1915 PST. A WITNESS STATED THAT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF (APPROXIMATELY 1900 PST), THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A SHALLOW TURN TO THE SOUTH, JUST PRIOR TO ENTERING THE CLOUDS.  APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES LATER, THE HERMISTON POLICE DEPARTMENT RECEIVED REPORT OF A DOWNED AIRCRAFT SOUTH OF THE HERMISTON AIRPORT.               (-23) WITNESS STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT MADE A SHALLOW RIGHT TURN DEPARTURE AFTER LEAVING RUNWAY INTO LOW FOG. (APPROXIMATELY 400 FEET CEILING).        (.4) SHORTLY BEFORE DEPARTURE, THE PILOT WAS ISSUED AN INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES (IFR) CLEARANCE FROM HERMISTON, OREGON TO MADRAS, OREGON. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE AIRPORT FROM RUNWAY 04. A WITNESS OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT ENTER A SHALLOW TURN TO THE RIGHT (SOUTH) SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTURE, HOWEVER, HE LOST SIGHT OF THE AIRCRAFT DUE TO TREES OBSCURING HIS VIEW. APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES LATER, THE LOCAL POLICE RECEIVED REPORT OF A DOWNED AIRCRAFT SOUTHEAST OF THE AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED TERRAIN APPROXIMATELY 1/4 MILE SOUTH OF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY, IN A RIGHT WING LOW ATTITUDE. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED DURING THE HOURS OF DARKNESS. LOW CEILINGS AND VISIBILITY WERE REPORTED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. NO EVIDENCE WAS FOUND TO INDICATE A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB SEA00FA033](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA00FA033), Dec 23, 1999: Beech 95-B55 (N8129R), Hermiston, OR, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with terrain. Factors include a dark night, low ceilings and mist.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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