Beech 95-B 55 accident near Lynchburg, Virginia, July 2, 1986
On July 2, 1986 at about 3:39 am local time, a Beech 95-B 55, registered N133P, was destroyed in an accident near Lynchburg, Virginia (Lynchburg Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 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
- July 2, 1986 · about 3:39 am local time
- Place
- Lynchburg, Virginia · Lynchburg Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech 95-B 55 · all 95-B 55s on the register
- Registration
- N133P · registry record · serial TC829
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT FILED AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN INTO KNOWN AND FORECAST IFR WEATHER. DURING HIS SECOND ILS APPROACH TO THE AIRPORT, AFTER THE CONTROL TOWER HAD CLOSED, HE FAILED TO UTILIZE THE AIRCRAFT RADIO TO ILLUMINATE THE APPROACH LIGHTING SYSTEM. THE PILOT FAILED TO LOCATE THE RUNWAY ENVIRONMENT IN SUFFICIENT TIME TO COMPLETE THE ILS LANDING. THEREAFTER, HE LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CIRCLE UNDERNEATH THE 300 FOOT CEILING ON THE DARK NIGHT AND THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO TREES ON THE AIRPORT.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 275 hours in all; 79 in this make and model; 188 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,741 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 20, 1985; 62 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470 L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BUF Buffalo NY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 3, 5,799 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 040° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 300 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:32 am from LYH
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.