# NTSB LAX88FA134: Beech D95A, N8855M, Santa Maria, CA, March 26, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 26, 1988, 12:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Santa Maria, CA
- Coordinates: 34.820526, -120.409698 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8205&lon=-120.4097&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 9, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25816
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX88FA134
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25816/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX88FA134

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ADEQUATELY COMPENSATE FOR THE LOSS OF POWER IN THE LEFT ENGINE AND TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb
  - 1 engine - failure,total
  - powerplant - undetermined (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - remedial action - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of recent experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - propeller feathering - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - inadequate recurrent training, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed(vmc) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

ATCT CONTROLLERS REPORTED THAT THE INITIAL GROUND ROLL, ROTATION AND LIFT OFF SEEMED NORMAL. AS THE AIRCRAFT PASSED THE TOWER CAB AT ABOUT 80 FT AGL, IT WAS SEEN TO 'APPRECIABLY SLOW AND YAW TO THE LEFT JUST LIKE A PRACTICE ENGINE CUT' THE CONTROLLERS HAD SEEN ON PRIOR OCCASIONS. WITNESSES SAW THE AIRCRAFT LEVEL OFF MOMENTARILY THEN BEGIN A CLIMB. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN A LEFT TURN, CONTINUED TO ROLL TO A NEAR INVERTED ATTITUDE AND DOVE INTO THE GROUND. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE LEFT PROP WAS AT THE LOW PITCH STOP AT IMPACT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS TOTALLY CONSUMED BY THE POST CRASH FIRE AND THE REASON FOR THE ENGINE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. RECORDS INDICATED THAT THE PILOT HAD FLOWN 32 HOURS IN THE PAST 15 MONTHS AND THAT THE LAST EMERGENCY TRAINING WAS TWO YEARS BEFORE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8855M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8855M-2010-07-28), registration cancelled 2010-07-28, S/N TD-591, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH D95A
- Registry model: [Beech D95A](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-d95a) (registry code 1153408) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TD591
- Airframe hours: 3495
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-B1B 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Van Valin, William B.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 7, 1987, 5 hours before
- Departed: SMX, SANTA MARIA, CA
- Destination: IZA, SANTA YNEZ, CA
- Airport: runway 30, 6,300 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 70; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,070 total, 855 in this make and model, 2,015 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SMX

## 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 19880326006469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880326006469A), Mar 26, 1988: Beech D95A, Santa Maria, CA, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Rolled over on climbout and dived into ground. Possible left engine power loss stall and VMC at same time. Unknown.

## Other investigations on N8855M (1)

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.

- [NTSB NYC71FFD24](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC71FFD24), Dec 19, 1970: Beech D95A (N8855M), Norwood, MA, substantial damage

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.