Beech 95-B55 accident near Kennesaw, Georgia, October 15, 1997
On October 15, 1997 at about 8:59 pm local time, a Beech 95-B55, registered N315K, was destroyed in an accident near Kennesaw, Georgia (Mc Collum Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper emergency procedures and subsequent loss of aircraft control, while attempting to maneuver for a precautionary landing. A factor relating to the accident was: partial loss of power in one or both engines for undetermined reason(s).
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 15, 1997 · about 8:59 pm local time
- Place
- Kennesaw, Georgia · Mc Collum Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 95-B55 · all 95-B55s on the register
- Registration
- N315K · registry record · serial TC-865
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the tower controller, the airplane took off and was about 1/2 mile off the end of the runway and about 300 feet above ground level (agl) when the pilot radioed that he was 'losing RPM'. Witnesses stated that the airplane was very low, about 150 to 200 feet. They said they saw the airplane bank hard to the left and impact the ground with the left wing. It then cartwheeled down the hill and burst into flames. The majority of the airplane was destroyed by impact and postcrash fire. Examination of both engines revealed normal operational signatures throughout. Examination of both propellers revealed damage consistent with the development of power. Both propellers impacted the ground, separated from the respective engines, and tumbled coming to rest in grassy areas. There was evidence that during impact, both engines were producing some power, and both propellers were rotating. The specific amount of power could not be quantified.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,964 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 1997; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,100 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: RYY at 8:55 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 5,105 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,100 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:15 pm from RYY, 1 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.