# Accident 20061218027209A: Beech D95A, Gilroy, CA, December 18, 2006

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 18, 2006, 15:50 local time
- Place: Gilroy, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: NZDS
- Location: 36.9939° N, 121.5408° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9939&lon=-121.5408&mi=10
- Aircraft: N144PG, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N144PG-2014-10-24) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech D95A (registry code 1153408, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-d95a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH D95A
- Reported engine: LYC IO360B1B
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 3
- Pilot flight hours: 1,978 total, 215 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA07FA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07FA035) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20061218027209A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE ACTUAL FACTS THAT WERE CAUSAL TO THE ACCIDENT REMAIN UNCLEAR AT THIS TIME. HOWEVER, IT APPEARS THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON A TRAINING FLIGHT WHERE THEY WERE CONDUCTING SINGLE ENGINE MINIMUM CONTROLLABLE AIRSPEED FLIGHT WHEN THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A SPIN AND CONTROL WAS LOST. THE ONLY UNUSUAL CONDITION NOTED DURING THE WRECKAGE INSPECTION WAS THAT BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT HAND FUEL SELECTOR LEVERS WERE IN THE "AUX" POSITION WITH A FUEL SELECTOR PANEL PLACARD READING "USE OF AUX TANK IN LEVEL FLIGHT ONLY." TWO EYE WITNESS ACCOUNTS SAW THE AIRCRAFT SPIRALING DOWN UNTIL IMPACT. PRIOR TO THIS NO WITNESS HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED THAT SAW THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCING TROUBLE OR NO RADIO COMMUNICATIONS WERE MADE TO INDICATE MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION BY THE AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURER, PROPELLER AND ENGINE MANUFACTURER SAY THEY FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE. A REVIEW OF THE AIRCRAFT RECORDS SHOW THAT THE REQUIRED INSPECTIONS HAD BEEN ACCOMPLISHED, AN AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES APPEAR TO BE UP-TO-DATE AND NO RECENT MAINTENANCE ACTIVITY WAS ACCOMPLISHED THAT MAY HAVE LED TO A MECHANICAL PROBLEM WERE NOTED.

## 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 SEA07FA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07FA035), Dec 18, 2006: Beech D95A (N144PG), Gilroy, CA, destroyed, 3 fatal. Probable cause: The certified flight instructor's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane and inadequate supervision of the flight, which resulted in a stall/spin.

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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