Beech C55 accident near Tyonek, Alaska, April 27, 1988
On April 27, 1988 at about 9:18 pm local time, a Beech C55, registered N2730T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tyonek, Alaska. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 27, 1988 · about 9:18 pm local time
- Place
- Tyonek, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech C55
- Registration
- N2730T · registry record · serial TE 375
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE TWO PILOTS WERE OPERATING THE AIRCRAFT UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF A FERRY PERMIT WHICH ALLOWED FLT ONLY DURING DAY VFR CONDITIONS AND WITH A SINGLE PILOT. THEY REQUESTED AND RECEIVED JUST THE WEATHER AT THE DESTINATION AIRPORT, WHICH WAS VMC. EN ROUTE THE FLT ENCOUNTERED IMC OVER A MOUNTAIN RANGE. RADAR RETURNS INDICATED THAT AS THE WEATHER WAS ENCOUNTERED, THE FLIGHT DEVIATED FROM THE ASSIGNED AIRWAY, AND FOLLOWED MOUNTAIN PASSES. ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT THE PILOT SHORTLY AFTER HE LEFT THE ASSIGNED AIRWAY WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. THE AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND AT THE 10,600 ELEVATION OF A 11,413 FOOT MT, 30 MILES SOUTH OF COURSE. WEATHER IN THE AREA WAS IMC WITH MODERATE TO HEAVY ICING REPORTED SHORTLY AFTER THE ACCIDENT.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 17,600 hours in all; 32 in this make and model; 17,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 5,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Galena Air Service
The flight
- Departed from: GAL Galena AK at 2:39 pm
- Destination: MRI Anchorage AK
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 3:50 pm from ANC, 75 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.