Beech B65 accident near California, Maryland, June 2, 1991
On June 2, 1991 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Beech B65, registered N655KJ, was destroyed in an accident near California, Maryland. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 11 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE LOSS OF POWER IN ONE ENGINE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 2, 1991 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- California, Maryland · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 11 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech B65
- Registration
- N655KJ · no longer on the register · serial LC-129]
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF ON A PARACHUTE JUMPING FLT THE LEFT ENGINE LOST POWER, BUT A SECOND LATER POWER WAS RESTORED. SOON AFTERWARDS A TOTAL POWER LOSS OCCURRED. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE PROPELLER STOPPED ROTATING AND DID NOT WINDMILL. HE DID NOT FEATHER THE LEFT PROPELLER. HE MADE A SHALLOW LEFT TURN TOWARD AN OPEN FIELD, WHILE TRYING TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT. HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED OR ALTITUDE, AND IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL, HE REDUCED POWER ON THE RIGHT ENGGINE. HE MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A WHEAT FIELD. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO A STOP AND ALL OCCUPANTS ESCAPED THE AIRPLANE BEFORE IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE DID NOT DISCLOSE EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION.
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; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: gyroplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,350 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 510 in the last 90 days; 160 in the last 30 days; 2,160 as pilot in command; 80 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 25, 1991; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming GSIO-480 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Fayard Enterprise, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: 2W6 at 3:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11, 3,200 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from PXT, 999 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 11 |
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.