# NTSB OAK79DVA22: Beech D55, N44DC, Visalia, CA, March 9, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: March 9, 1979
- Place: Visalia, CA · VISALIA, CA
- Location: 36.3302° N, 119.2921° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Visalia, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3302&lon=-119.2921&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 12, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 137882
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK79DVA22
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK79DVA22

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0294   79/3/9    VISALIA,CA          BEECH D55           CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 56, 3500
        TIME - 1430                    N44DC               PX-  0  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 2500 IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - VISALIA MUNICIPAL
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          PORTERVILLE,CA              VISALIA,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           WHEELS-UP                                                LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO EXTEND LANDING GEAR
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N44DC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N44DC-2025-01-11), registration cancelled 2025-01-11, S/N TE-735, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH D55
- Registry model: [Beech D55](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-d55) (registry code 1152730) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Visalia Municipal

## 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 19790309004389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790309004389A), Mar 9, 1979: Beech D55, Visalia, CA, Substantial damage. Pilot forgot to lower landing gear. Landed wheels up.

## Other investigations on N44DC (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 ERA22LA092](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA092), Dec 21, 2021: Beech D55 (N44DC), Hamilton, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to properly configure the airplane’s fuel system, which resulted in a loss of engine power on the left engine due to fuel starvation.

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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