Beech BE-55 accident near Beckley, West Virginia, November 19, 1986
On November 19, 1986 at about 10:40 pm local time, a Beech BE-55, registered N42P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Beckley, West Virginia (Raleigh CO. Mem. airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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
- November 19, 1986 · about 10:40 pm local time
- Place
- Beckley, West Virginia · Raleigh CO. Mem. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech BE-55
- Registration
- N42P · registry record · serial 4C2244
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT BEFORE TAKEOFF HE DID NOT SEE ANYTHING ON THE RWY. THE LANDING AND TAXI LIGHTS ON THE ACFT WERE ON FOR THE TAKEOFF. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL WHEN THE ACFT WAS ALMOST AT TAKEOFF SPEED THE PLT HEARD A LOUD BANG FOLLOWEDBY THE ACFT YAWING TO THE RIGHT. THE TAKEOFF WAS ABORTED AND AFTERWARDS THE PLT SAW THAT THE RIGHT WING WAS DAMAGED. HE WAS UNAWARE AS TO WHAT HE HAD HIT UNTIL LATER WHEN HE SAW A DEER LYING ON THE RWY.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,775 hours in all; 600 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,021 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, November 10, 1986; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,100 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: CRW Charleston WV
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 1, 6,750 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 140° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.