Beech B55 accident near Orange, Virginia, August 16, 1989
On August 16, 1989 at about 4:05 pm local time, a Beech B55, registered N816FW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Orange, Virginia (Orange, CO airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE TAKEOFF WAS REJECTED WHEN THE PILOT WAS STARTLED BY THE SOUND FROM THE EMERGENCY WINDOW EXIT WHICH WAS INADVERTENTLY OPENED BY A PASSENGER. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE AIRCRAFT IN TIME TO AVOID OVERRUNNING THE RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 16, 1989 · about 4:05 pm local time
- Place
- Orange, Virginia · Orange, CO · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech B55 · all B55s on the register
- Registration
- N816FW · no longer on the register · serial TC-1747
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT SAID HE WAS ON TAKEOFF ROLL, NEAR LIFT OFF SPEED, AND HALF-WAY DOWN THE 3200 LONG RUNWAY WHEN, UNKNOWN TO HIM, THE ELEVEN YEAR OLD PASSENGER IN THE SECOND ROW RIGHT SEAT OPENED THE EMERGENCY WINDOW. THE PLT SAID HE HEARD A LOUD POP AND RUSH OF AIR. THE PLT SAID HE THOUGHT THAT EITHER A DOOR HAD OPENED OR A TIRE HAD BLOWN, SO HE ABORTED THE TAKEOFF. THE PLT SAID HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE ACFT ON THE WET RUNWAY BEFORE IT PAST THE RUNWAY END AND CAME TO A STOP IN A DITCH.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,553 hours in all; 81 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 2,150 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,424 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 15, 1989; 17 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: JAX Jacksonville FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 25, 3,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.