# NTSB LAX85FA301: Beech 95-B55, N5794X, Corona, CA, July 1, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 1, 1985, 15:47 local (22:47 UTC)
- Place: Corona, CA
- Location: 33.8753° N, 117.5664° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Corona, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8753&lon=-117.5664&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24518
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX85FA301
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24518/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX85FA301

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent - normal
  - engine instruments,fuel quantity gage - not switched (contributing factor)
  - fuel supply - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (contributing factor)
  - wrong propeller feathered - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - fuel system,selector/valve - not switched (contributing factor)
  - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - fuel system,selector/valve - improper (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - emergency procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - ground (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DURING EN ROUTE DESCENT THE PLT TOLD THE RADAR CONTROLLER THT HE HAD LOST AN ENG AND COULD NOT HOLD ALT. WITNESSES SAW THE ACFT DESCENDING TOWARD HILLY TERRAIN, BEGIN A RIGHT TURN, THEN ABRUPTLY PITCH DOWN AND ROLL RIGHT TO IMPACT IN A RESIDENCE YARD ON THE RIGHT WING TIP. THE ACFT IS EQUIPPED WITH MAIN AND AUX FUEL TANKS IN EACH WING. A SELECTOR SWITCH DETERMINES WHETHER THE MAIN OR AUX TANK FUEL LEVELS ARE DISPLAYED ON THE FUEL GAGES. EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT REVEALED THAT THE FUEL SELECTORS WERE POSITIONED ON THE AUX TANKS WHILE THE FUEL GAGE WAS SELECTED TO THE MAIN TANKS. NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE AUX TANKS, WHILE ABOUT 10 GALLONS OF FUEL WERE FOUND IN THE MAIN TANKS. THE LEFT ENG FUEL LINESCONTAINED NO FUEL, WHILE THE RIGHT ENG LINES HAD FUEL. EXAMINATION OF THE PROPELLER HUBS REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT PROPELLER WAS IN THE FEATHERED POSITION WHILE THE LEFT PROPELLER WAS IN THE HIGH PITCH RANGE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5794X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5794X-1988-11-21), registration cancelled 1988-11-21, S/N TC751 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 95-B55
- Registry model: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A)](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-95-b55-t42a) (registry code 1152706) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TC 751
- Airframe hours: 5100
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470-L 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: John R. Dubos
- Registered owner: Ronald Bruce And Lee Mathis
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 15, 1985, 134 hours before
- Departed: SFE, SAN DIEGO, CA
- Destination: L66, CORONA, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,100 total, 90 in this make and model, 2,100 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: CND, 6 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 19850701033309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850701033309A), Jul 1, 1985: Beech 95B55, Corona, CA, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Lost control and impacted terrain after loss of power. Aux fuel tanks selected. Left propeller not feathered.

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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