# NTSB ERA26LA037: Beech 95-A55, N500CA, Southern Pines, NC, November 9, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 9, 2025, 05:10 local (10:10 UTC) - Place: Southern Pines, NC - Coordinates: 35.235996, -79.392088 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2360&lon=-79.3921&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 7, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 201976 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA037 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201976/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201976 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA037 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff at night, while distracted by an animal approaching the runway, which resulted in collision with a runway light. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 95-A55, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1152704), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: attention](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 95-A55, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md?model=1152704), [All aircraft, 226 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 95-A55, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=1152704), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Wildlife encounter (non-bird)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310); cases with it: [Beech 95-A55, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310/sequence.md?model=1152704), [All aircraft, 107 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech 95-A55, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=1152704), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Beech 95-A55, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1152704), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was departing in a multi-engine airplane at night. During the takeoff roll, a small animal darted towards the runway. Distracted, he released a small amount of rudder pressure but elected to continue the takeoff. The airplane subsequently collided with a runway edge light, which resulted in substantial damage to the left aileron. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N500CA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N500CA), registered now, S/N TC-494, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH 95-A55 - Registry model: [Beech 95-A55](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-95-a55) (registry code 1152704) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: TC-494 - Year built: 1963 - Airframe hours: 6711 - Engines: Continental IO-520 300 horsepower reciprocating; Continental IO-520 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 5, 2025 - Airport: SOP, Moore County Airport, runway 23, 6,503 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Auto-pilot, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 3,650 total, 950 in this make and model, 3,000 as pilot in command, 80 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 210° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 900 ft overcast - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.82 inHg - Observed at: SOP - METAR: METAR KSOP 090956Z AUTO 21007KT 10SM OVC009 19/19 A2982 ## 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 20251109017599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251109017599A), Nov 9, 2025: Beech 95-A55, Pinehurst, NC, Substantial damage. On 11/09/2025 at 05:15 am local time, a BE-95 began takeoff roll at the Moore County Airport (SOP) with no passengers on board. The pilot lost control of the… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 11, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201976. 4.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19826283&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA26LA037%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19826096&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs-Rel.pdf - Weather reports and records (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 154 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19826853&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=METAR-Rel.pdf 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.