# NTSB NYC01FA193: Beech 95-B55, N727AF, Xenia, OH, July 31, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: July 31, 2001, 08:40 local (12:40 UTC) - Place: Xenia, OH - Coordinates: 39.646945, -83.854721 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6469&lon=-83.8547&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed, report September 10, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Continental Motors, Federal Aviation Administration, Raytheon Aircraft - NTSB case key (mKey): 52880 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC01FA193 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52880/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC01FA193 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's failure to maintain aircraft control while maneuvering, which resulted in an inadvertent spin. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - stall/spin - inadvertent - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis According to radar data, the training flight departed about 0820, flew south and climbed to 6,000 feet msl. While the airplane was maneuvering about 20 minutes later, it descended and stabilized at 5,400 feet. However, the airspeed decreased to about 60 KIAS, and the airplane entered a rapid descent in a near-vertical flight path. About 0840, witnesses near the accident site observed the airplane in a flat spin prior to ground impact. The training syllabus for the respective lesson included the following topics: Maneuvering at Critically Slow Airspeed; Emergency Operations (Engine-Out); and Maneuvering with One Engine Inoperative. Additionally, review of the flight instructor's daily planner for that lesson revealed, "Hold, Stalls, Short T/O/Landing." Review of a Beech B55 manual revealed that the minimum speed for direction controllability with one engine out was 78 KIAS. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 31, 2001, about 0840 eastern daylight time, a Beech 95-B55, N727AF, operated by the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Aero Club, was substantially damaged when it impacted a cornfield near Xenia, Ohio. The certificated flight instructor and commercial pilot were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to radar data from the United States Air Force (USAF) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the airplane departed Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (FFO), Dayton, Ohio, about 0828. The pilots flew south toward a practice area, and climbed to about 6,000 feet msl. The flight then turned left toward northeast, and began to descend slowly and decelerate. It then continued left, and briefly accelerated while the altitude stabilized about 5,400 feet msl. Finally, the left turn stopped on a south-southwest heading and the flight decelerated again, about 0840. About 0840, witnesses near the accident site reported hearing engines sputtering, and observed the airplane in a flat spin as it descended toward the cornfield. The accident occurred during the hours of daylight; located approximately 39 degrees, 38.81 minutes north latitude; and 83 degrees, 51.28 minutes west longitude. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The flight instructor held a commercial pilot certificate and a flight instructor certificate; with ratings for single engine land, multiengine land, and instrument airplane. His most recent FAA second class medical certificate was issued on October 17, 2000. According to his logbook, the multiengine flight instructor had a total flight experience of approximately 3,000 hours; of which, approximately 105 hours were in multiengine airplanes. The pilot receiving instruction held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for single engine land and instrument airplane. His most recent FAA third class medical certificate was issued on November 24, 1999. The commercial pilot had approximately 400 hours; of which, about 5 hours were in multiengine airplanes. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The most recent 100-hour inspection of the 1965 Beech 95-B55 was performed on February 18, 2001. In addition, a 50-hour inspection of the airplane was performed on April 27, 2001. At the time of the accident, the airplane had accumulated about 85 hours of operation since the last 100-hour inspection. The airplane's total flight time was approximately 10,161 hours. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION The reported weather at FFO, at 0855, was: wind variable at 1 knot; visibility 4 miles, mist; few clouds at 20,000 feet; temperature 75 degrees F, dew point 73 degrees F; altimeter 30.20 inches Hg. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The wreckage was examined on August 1 and 2, 2001, and all major components of the airplane were accounted for at the scene. The wreckage was intact, oriented about a 270-degree heading, and resting on top of collapsed cornstalks. The field elevation at the accident site was approximately 956 feet above sea level. There was no observed debris path, and the property damage was limited to the cornstalks in the immediate vicinity of the wreckage. Little or no fuel was found in the four fuel tanks. However, all four tanks had ruptured, and fuel was found in the soil beneath the wreckage. Additionally, records from the aero club indicated that the airplane was fueled to capacity on July 27, 2001, and not flown until the accident flight. Samples were taken of the fuel remaining in the wings. They were clear, light blue in color, and contained some water. However, it was unknown how much water condensed during the first night the wreckage was in the field. Flight control continuity was confirmed from all control surfaces to the control column. The rudder trim jackscrew corresponded to a beyond-limit left setting. The elevator trim jackscrew corresponded to a 25-degree nose-up setting. The aileron trim corresponded to a 22.5 degree left aileron down setting. All three settings were near or beyond design limits of the airplane, and were consistent with being subjected to impact forces. The landing gear was found in the extended position. The right wing sustained little damage to the leading edge. There was some buckling on the top of the wing, and the bottom of the wing was crushed. The right flap was found extended, and detached from the jackscrew. The jackscrew measurement corresponded to a full flap extension. The right aileron was deflected upward. The left wing also sustained minor damage to the leading edge. The top of the wing was buckled, and the underside was crushed. The left flap was extended, and the jackscrew position corresponded to an approximate 20-degree flap extension. However, the flap was crushed upward, consistent with impact damage. The left aileron was also deflected upward, but a representative from the airframe manufacturer could not confirm the position of either aileron due to impact forces on the control cables. The fuselage and empennage were compressed and bulged to the left. The empennage was relatively undamaged. The rudder was deflected to the left, and the elevator was deflected upward. The cockpit was intact. The left fuel selector was found in the "MAIN" position. The right fuel selector was damaged, and found near the "MAIN" position. Removal and examination of the fuel valves revealed that both selectors were in the "MAIN" position. The flap switch was found in the "DOWN" position, and the "FLAP DOWN" light bulb exhibited filament stretch. The left and right throttle levers were found in the idle position. The left mixture control was found in the lean position, and the right mixture was mid-range. The left propeller lever was found in the mid-range position, and the right lever was found just forward of the feather position. The right propeller remained attached to the engine, and the blades exhibited little damage. The top spark plugs and valve covers were removed from the right engine. The spark plugs appeared light gray in color, and their electrodes were intact. The propeller was rotated by hand, and camshaft, crankshaft, and valve train continuity in the engine were confirmed. When the magnetos were removed and rotated by hand, they produced spark at all six top leads. The oil screen was examined, and some contamination was noted. The fuel screen and engine driven fuel pump were also removed. The fuel screen was absent of debris, and the fuel coupling was intact. Fuel was found in the fuel lines, fuel injector, fuel manifold, engine driven fuel pump, and selector valve. The left propeller was found separated from the engine. One blade exhibited little damage, and the other blade exhibited minor "s"-bending and chordwise scratching. The top spark plugs and valve covers were removed from the left engine. The spark plugs were darker than the plugs from the right engine. Their electrodes were intact and absent of debris. The crankshaft was rotated by hand using an accessory gear drive in the rear of the engine. Crankshaft, camshaft, and valve train continuity were confirmed. When the magnetos were removed and rotated by hand, they produced spark at all six top leads. The oil screen was removed for inspection, and was absent of debris. The fuel screen and engine driven fuel pump were also removed. The fuel screen was absent of debris, and the fuel coupling was intact. Fuel was found in the fuel lines, fuel injector, fuel manifold, engine driven fuel pump, and selector valve. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION Autopsies were performed on the pilots by the Montgomery County Coroner's Office. Toxicological testing was conducted at the FAA Toxicology Accident Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. TESTS AND RESEARCH The radar data from th ## Aircraft - Registration: [N727AF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N727AF-2006-06-21), registration cancelled 2006-06-21, S/N TF-49, built 1965 (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) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-470-series) (registry code 17044, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: TF-49 - Airframe hours: 10161 - Engines: Continental IO-470 260 hp reciprocating; Continental IO-470 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Wright Patterson AFB Aero Club - Registered owner: United States Air Force - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 18, 2001, 85 hours before - Departed: FFO, Dayton, OH - Airport: FFO, Wright-Patterson AFB, runway 23R, 12,601 × 300 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 58; injuries: fatal; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review November 6, 2000; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,956 total, 75 in this make and model, 2,882 as pilot in command, 291 in the last 90 days, 54 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 43; injuries: fatal; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review December 17, 1999; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 395 total, 5 in this make and model, 360 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 1 knots - Visibility: 4 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: FFO, 12 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 20010731037129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010731037129A), Jul 31, 2001: Beech 95B55, Xenia, OH, No damage, 2 fatal. (-23) Aircraft crashed in corn field. Aircraft destroyed with two occupants, both fatal. Several eye witnesses stated they observed the aircraft was in a flat… 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.