# NTSB LAX98FA113: Beech B95A, N569T, Little River, CA, March 15, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: March 15, 1998, 14:40 local (22:40 UTC) - Place: Little River, CA - Coordinates: 39.259841, -123.760604 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2598&lon=-123.7606&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 4 fatal - Status: Completed, report February 15, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29943 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX98FA113 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29943/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98FA113 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadvertent visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's improper weather evaluation. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - weather evaluation - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The VFR pilot and passengers departed into an approximate 500-foot agl stratus deck off the end of the coastal runway. Witnesses observed the aircraft enter the stratus, come out, re-enter at a steep angle, and then descend from the stratus into the terrain. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On March 15, 1998, about 1440 hours Pacific standard time, a Beech B95A, N569T, was destroyed after colliding with trees and terrain following takeoff at Little River, California. The pilot and three passengers received fatal injuries. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was originating as a personal cross-country return flight to Woodland, California. Ground witnesses observed the aircraft takeoff, climb, and disappear into a low stratus deck just off the end of the coastal runway. They saw the aircraft descend out of the stratus then climb back into the stratus deck before descending into the terrain. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The non-instrument rated private pilot reported a total flight time of 936 hours at his most recent third-class flight physical dated November 11, 1997. The pilot's logbook No. 2 was recovered and the first entry was dated January 2, 1988. The last log entry was dated February 23, 1998, for a biennial flight review in the accident aircraft. A review of the untotaled logbook revealed no entries were made in the actual instrument or simulated instrument sections. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The airframe and engine logbooks were not recovered. According to information obtained from the maintenance provider, the aircraft had received an annual inspection dated March 18,1997. The pilot purchased 42 gallons of 100LL aviation fuel prior to departure from Little River. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION According to the airport supervisor/certified weather observer, the weather was a variable and indefinite ceiling between 300 and 600 feet agl with visibility of 5 to 10 miles. The wind was from the west at 6 to 10 knots. Earlier in the day when the aircraft had arrived at Little River, the stratus deck was offshore and had gradually migrated inland over the airport. The weather condition was typical for the area according to the airport supervisor. There were no official weather reporting facilities near the accident area, nor facilities with representative coastal weather. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION Postaccident examinations of the airframe and engines were conducted on-scene and after retrieval. The accident site was located southwest of the runway in a densely forested area. The approximate wreckage path was 030 degrees over about 300 feet. The airframe structure was fragmented into numerous sections with tree impact signatures on leading edge surfaces. The entire aircraft structure was accounted for at the accident site. Due to the fragmented condition of the wreckage, control establishment was not possible. The fuel selectors were set to the main fuel tanks, and both wing flaps and landing gears were in the up position at the time of the accident. Both propellers revealed chordwise striations, leading edge damage, and tip loss. The nose baggage door latches were found fastened and separated from the fuselage structure. The cabin door was found separated from the fuselage with the latching handle in the locked and extended position. The aft baggage latch was found in the latched position. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION On March 16, 1998, the Mendocino County Coroner performed an autopsy on the pilot. During the course of the autopsy, the FAA Civil Aeromedical Institute at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma obtained samples for toxicological analysis. The analysis for carbon monoxide and cyanide were not performed due to lack of suitable specimen. The analysis was negative for volatiles and drugs, however, Cimetidine, an antiulcer medication, was detected in the kidney and liver fluid. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The wreckage was released to the insurance company representative on April 7, 1998. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N569T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N569T-1998-08-31), registration cancelled 1998-08-31, S/N TD462 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech B95A - Registry model: [Beech B95A](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-b95a) (registry code 1153406) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: TD-462 - Airframe hours: 3707 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-B1E 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Rogelio Rodriguez - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 15, 1997 - Departed: 048, LITTLE RIVER, CA - Destination: 041, WOODLAND, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 936 total ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 600 ft overcast - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: 048, 1 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 19980315003359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980315003359A), Mar 15, 1998: Beech B95A, Little River, CA, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Entered fog bank on climbout. Lost control broke out recovered. Back into clouds came out in dive. Struck trees. (.4)the VFR pilot and passengers departed into… ## Other investigations on N569T (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 DEN66D0147](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN66D0147), Oct 24, 1965: Beechcraft 95-55 (N569T), Logan, UT, 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.