Beech 95-B55 accident near Greenville, South Carolina, April 27, 1987
On April 27, 1987 at about 6:20 pm local time, a Beech 95-B55, registered N5824S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Greenville, South Carolina (Donaldson Center airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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, 1987 · about 6:20 pm local time
- Place
- Greenville, South Carolina · Donaldson Center
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 95-B55 · all 95-B55s on the register
- Registration
- N5824S · no longer on the register · serial TC832
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED HE FORGOT TO PUT THE LDG GEAR DOWN. HE STATED THAT HE WAS PRACTICIING A SHORT FIELD LDG WITH THE POWER SET AT ABOUT 15 IN. HG MAP. HE NOTED THAT THE GEAR WARNING SYSTEM DOES NOT FUNCTION UNLESS THE POWER IS AT 12 IN. HG MAP OR BELOW. THE PLT EXPRESSED THE OPINION THAT THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF HE HAD PERFORMED A 'GUMP' (GAS, UNDERCARRIAGE, MIXTURE, PROPS) CHECK PRIOR TO LDG.
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: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,000 hours in all; 3,000 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 5, 1987; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,100 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental I0-470 L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MLJ Milledgeville GA at 5:30 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 22, 8,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from GSP, 11 miles away
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.