# NTSB ATL83FA046: Beech 95-B55, N18411, Cullman, AL, November 24, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 23, 1982, 22:40 local (Nov 24, 1982, 04:40 UTC)
- Place: Cullman, AL
- Coordinates: 34.169864, -86.82904 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1699&lon=-86.8290&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 23, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 70383
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL83FA046
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/70383/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL83FA046

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb

## Analysis

AFTER TAKEOFF FROM RWY 1, THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED TO CLIMB IN A STEEP ATTITUDE INTO THE CLOUDS. THE ACFT CRASHED IN A NEARVERTICAL ATTITUDE ABOUT 3/4 MI FROM THE RWY ON A BEARING OF 050 DEG. THE CONTROL LOCK PIN FLAG WAS FOUND IN THE VICINITYOF THE CONTROL COLUMN WITH THE PIN MISSING. EXAMINATION OF THE ELEVATOR TRIM MOTOR GEARS REVEALED A DAMAGE TOOTH ON THE DRIVE GEAR & A SERIES OF MARKED TEETH ON THE DRIVER GEAR. THE ELEVATOR TRIM TAB WAS FOUND IN THE MAX DEFLECTION POSITION(FULL-UP TAB.) THE ELEVATOR TRIM MOTOR, WHEN OPERATING, TAKES 57.5 SECS TO MOVE FROM NEUTRAL TO FULL UP; 27 SECS TO MOVEFROM NEUTRAL TO FULL DOWN; & 67 SECS TO MOVE FROM FULL UP TO FULL DOWN. WHEN THE CONTROL LOCK PIN IS INSTALLED, THE ELEVATOR IS LOCKED 12 DEGS DOWN & THE AILERON IS LOCKED 8 DEGS RIGHT AILERON UP. THE LEFT PROP BLADES WERE BENT AFT ABOUT THE BLADE FACES. SOME CHORDWISE SCRAPES WERE NOTED. THE PROP HAD SEPARATED FROM THE ENG DRIVE SHAFT UNDER A TORSION & BENDING LOAD.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N18411 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 95-B55
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TC-1979
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470-L 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Central American Inter'L Inc.
- Registered owner: Smb2 Inc.
- Departed: 3A1, CULLMAN, AL
- Destination: LOUISVILLE, KY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: 3A1, Folsom, runway 1, 5,120 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 65; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 16,060 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 310° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 900 ft overcast
- Temperature: 32 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: HSV, 22 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19821123061619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19821123061619A), Nov 23, 1982: Beech 95B55, Cullman, AL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Aircraft crashed out of control shortly after takeoff. Indications are control locks not removed.

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.

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