# NTSB LAX87FA039: Beech D55, N8386N, Livermore, CA, November 13, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 12, 1986, 17:55 local (Nov 13, 1986, 01:55 UTC)
- Place: Livermore, CA
- Coordinates: 37.680889, -121.75035 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6809&lon=-121.7503&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 25, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25356
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX87FA039
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25356/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87FA039

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command
  - airspeed(vmc) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff

## Analysis

WITNESSES STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT STARTED THE TAKEOFF ROLL, BECAME AIRBORNE AT ABOUT 1000 FEET DOWN THE RUNWAY, CLIMBED TO AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 50 FEET, ROLLED TO THE LEFT AND CRASHED INVERTED ONTO A PARALLEL TAXIWAY AT ABOUT MID FIELD. THERE WAS NO FIRE. EXAM OF WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE FUEL SEL FOR RT ENG WAS ON RT MAIN WHILE SEL FOR LT ENG WAS ON AUX FUEL TK. OP MANUAL STATES THEY SHOULD BOTH BE ON MAINS FOR TKOF. LT PROPS WERE FD NEARLY STRAIGHT WHILE RT PROPS WERE FOUND BENT REARWARD.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8386N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8386N-1988-08-05), registration cancelled 1988-08-05, S/N TE555 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH D55
- Registry model: [Beech D55](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-d55) (registry code 1152730) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TE-555
- Airframe hours: 3216
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-C2B 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Vincent J. Flynn
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 2, 1986, 71 hours before
- Destination: O08, COLUSA, CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: LVK, Livermore, runway 7, 4,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,425 total, 256 in this make and model, 52 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 70° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: LVK

## 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 19861112055989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861112055989A), Nov 12, 1986: Beech D55, Livermore, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Aircraft rolled over on takeoff and hit the ground inverted. Suspect loss of power on engine. Aux fuel tank selected

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.