Beech 95-B55 accident near Midland, Texas, December 15, 2011
On December 15, 2011 at about 10:05 pm local time, a Beech 95-B55, registered N275D, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Midland, Texas (Midland Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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 pilot’s improper fuel management during the flight, which resulted in a total loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 15, 2011 · about 10:05 pm local time
- Place
- Midland, Texas · Midland Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 95-B55 · all 95-B55s on the register
- Registration
- N275D · no longer on the register · serial TC-589
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
When the airplane was on final approach to land, about 1 mile from the airport, both engines lost power. The pilot attempted an engine restart to no avail. Unable to reach the runway, the pilot selected a residential road and performed a forced landing. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Impact damage precluded a determination of the total fuel remaining in the fuel tanks. The pilot further reported that he misinterpreted the airplane's crossfeed fuel operation and suggested he should have stopped en route for fuel.
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
What happened, in order
- Fuel starvation during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action selection › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,241 hours in all; 528 in this make and model; 57 in the last 90 days; 23 in the last 30 days; 3,004 as pilot in command; 3,883 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 11, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Other crew
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 111 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 42 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 28, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,270 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, November 14, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 5,021 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental Motors IO-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental Motors IO-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 43OK Wellston OK at 8:25 pm
- Destination: MDD Midland TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 07, 5,022 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 11 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.