# NTSB FTW97LA015: Beech BE-55B, N179DP, Bellville, TX, October 11, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 10, 1996, 19:30 local (Oct 11, 1996, 00:30 UTC)
- Place: Bellville, TX
- Coordinates: 29.939048, -96.250122 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.9390&lon=-96.2501&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 25, 1997
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 20090
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW97LA015
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20090/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA015

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed resulting in an inadvertent stall. Factors were the dark night conditions and the pilot's failure to lower the flaps.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - lowering of flaps - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command
- Main gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,main gear - overload

## Analysis

The dark night approach was executed to the 2,500-foot runway which had trees and transmission lines at the approach path. The pilot stated that the approach was made with the flaps retracted and 'during the landing flare/touchdown, the airplane stalled from about 10 to 12 feet above the ground, the left wing struck the ground, the left main gear collapsed and the airplane departed the runway.'

## Factual narrative

On October 10, 1996, at 1930 central daylight time, a Beech BE-55B, N179DP, registered to and operated by a private owner, sustained substantial damage during the landing near Bellville, Texas.  The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 cross country flight for which a flight plan was not filed.  The personal flight originated at 1850 near Hearne, Texas.

During a telephone interview, conducted by the investigator-in-charge, and on the Pilot/Operator Report, the pilot reported the following information.  A dark night approach was executed to runway 15 (2,500 feet in length with a 2-3 degree upslope) at the Grawunder Airport.  Trees and transmission lines are at the approach path and the approach was made with the flaps retracted.  The pilot stated that "during the landing flare/touchdown, the airplane stalled from about 10 to 12 feet above the ground, the left wing struck the ground, the left main gear collapsed and the airplane departed the runway."  Both wings and propellers and the right engine mounts and firewall sustained structural damaged.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N179DP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N179DP-1999-01-20), registration cancelled 1999-01-20, S/N TC852 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Beech BE-55B
- Registry model: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A)](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-95-b55-t42a) (registry code 1152706) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TC-852
- Airframe hours: 6112
- Engines: Continental IO-470-L 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Welton E. Hill
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: T72, HEARNE, TX
- Destination: 06R
- Airport: 06R, Grawunder Ariport, runway 15, 2,500 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 700 total, 186 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 60° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19961010036839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961010036839A), Oct 10, 1996: Beech 95B55, Bellville, TX, Substantial damage. Landing over tall obstructions no flaps. Stalled 12FT AGL. Left wing hit and left gear collapsed. Spar damage. (-23) pilot made an approach over obstacles,…

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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