Beech B24R accident near Ninilchik, Alaska, October 19, 1995
On October 19, 1995 at about 5:45 pm local time, a Beech B24R, registered N9329S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ninilchik, Alaska. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper inflight planning/decision and inadequate compensation for the wind conditions. Turbulence and downdrafts were related factors.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 19, 1995 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Ninilchik, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech B24R · all B24Rs on the register
- Registration
- N9329S · no longer on the register · serial MC-362
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The certificated commercial pilot was in cruise flight at 4,500 feet mean sea level (MSL). Due to high wind conditions, he descended to 3,000 feet msl. The terrain began rising, and the pilot began a climb to maintain an altitude of about 1,300 feet above the ground. He then encountered severe turbulence and downdrafts. He attempted to maintain control of the airplane and applied full power to establish a climb attitude at an indicated airspeed of about 80 MPH. However, the airplane continued to descend into upsloping, rock and snow covered terrain. The airplane contacted the ground in a climb attitude and received damage to the wings, fuselage, and engine.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,490 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 133 in the last 90 days; 47 in the last 30 days; 1,457 as pilot in command; 350 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,127 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 15, 1995; 38 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SOV Seldovia AK at 12:02 pm
- Destination: Z41 Anchorage AK
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 045° at 35 knots, gusting 50
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 11,000 ft; scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.