# Accident 20050215005659A: Beech 95, St Helena, CA, February 15, 2005

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 15, 2005, 11:22 local time
- Place: St Helena, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.6536° N, 122.6022° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6536&lon=-122.6022&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8269D, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8269D-2013-05-14) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech 95 (registry code 1153402, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-95) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 95
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX05FA099](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05FA099) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050215005659A

## Narrative

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

(-23) OPERATOR DEPARTED OROVILLE, CA (OVE) FOR CHARLES M. SCHULZ, SONOMA COUNTY AIRPORT (STS) VIA VFR FLIGHT RULES. RADAR CONTACT AND VOICE COMMUNICATION WAS LOST IN THE VICINITY OF MT. ST. HELENA AFTER NORMAL APPROACH ACKNOWLEDGED AIRCRAFT WAS BEGINNING DESCENT, SUBSEQUENT CALLS TO AIRCRAFT WITH NO RESPONSE. WEATHER REPORTS WERE OVERCAST WITH INTERMEDIATE LAYERS. AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE WAS DISCOVERED 2-17-2005 BY LAW ENFORCEMENT HELICOPTER AT APPROX. 3300' LEVEL ON THE WEST SIDE OF MT. ST. HELENA, NEAR ST. HELENA, CA 15 MILES EAST OF SONOMA COUNTY AIRPORT. WRECKAGE PHOTOS INDICATE A COMPLETE HULL COMPROMISE AND PROPELLER DAMAGE INDICATES ENGINES WERE DEVELOPING SUBSTANTIAL POWER AT IMPACT.

## 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 LAX05FA099](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05FA099), Feb 15, 2005: Beech 95 (N8269D), Calistoga, CA, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate preflight and in-flight planning/decision, which resulted in continued VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions at an altitude insufficient to ensure adequate…

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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