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Accidents · NTSB CEN13FA137 · Final report

Beech 95-B55 (T42A) accident near Mangum, Oklahoma, January 19, 2013

On January 19, 2013 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Beech 95-B55 (T42A), registered N143E, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Mangum, Oklahoma (Scott Field Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).

The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged

The airplane's aerodynamic stall/spin at low altitude and subsequent impact with terrain for reasons that could not be determined during postaccident examinations. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of currency/proficiency.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
January 19, 2013 · about 11:00 pm local time
Place
Mangum, Oklahoma · Scott Field Airport · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
3 people were killed.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Beech 95-B55 (T42A) · all 95-B55 (T42A)s on the register
Registration
N143E · no longer on the register · serial TC-792
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

The pilot conducted a taxi test down the runway, stopped to pick up two passengers, and then departed on the local flight in the twin-engine airplane. Two witnesses reported hearing the airplane, which made them notice it flying toward them. They stated that it sounded like it "sputtered" and that they then saw the airplane nose dive into a spin. They indicated that the airplane appeared to flatten out before it collided with terrain. Review of radar data revealed that the airplane conducted various maneuvers before the accident, including a 360-degree left turn about 5 to 6 miles from the airport. The track then turned east before turning north away from the airport. The radar data indicated that the airplane slowed as it turned north. Only one of the radar plots indicated the airplane's altitude, and it indicated that it was at 3,600 feet (about 2,000 feet above ground level [agl]).  A mechanic reported that he had performed an annual inspection on the airplane before the airplane's departure; however, the inspection was not noted in the airplane's maintenance records. The last recorded annual inspection was conducted about 17 months before the accident. Further, the postaccident examination revealed that the engines were missing their respective dataplates and that the altimeter and static system test was last conducted 25 months before the accident. Despite these discrepancies, examination of the airplane and engines did not reveal any abnormalities that would have prevented normal operation. On the basis of the evidence, the airplane slowed and then entered a  stall/spin. However, it could not be determined whether the pilot was performing an intentional maneuver or if there was a loss of engine power. According to the airplane's Pilot's Operating Handbook, stalls should be recovered no lower than 3,000 feet agl. A review of the pilot's logbooks revealed that he had last flown a multiengine airplane about 7 months before the accident and that he had flown only about 30 hours in multiengine airplanes in the 2 years before the accident. The pilot's last flight review, which was conducted in the accident airplane, occurred about 27 months before the accident. The pilot's toxicological report noted the presence of a therapeutic level of amitriptyline, an antidepressant, which was not declared in his medical history. It could not be determined whether the pilot was impaired by the amitriptyline or the underlying condition for which it was prescribed at the time of the accident.

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

  1. Unknown or undetermined during enroute
  2. Aerodynamic stall/spin during enroute
  3. Loss of control in flight during enroute defining event
  4. Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent

The NTSB's findings

  • cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › (general) › (general) › Pilot
  • Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service › Maintenance/inspections › Scheduled maint checks › Not serviced/maintained
  • cause Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Recent experience › Pilot
  • Personnel issues › Physical › Impairment/incapacitation › Prescription medication › Pilot

Pilot

  • Certificate: commercial pilot
  • Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
  • Flight time: 2,170 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model
  • Last flight review: September 21, 2010
  • Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
  • Seat: left
  • Injury: fatal

The aircraft

  • Seats: 6
  • Landing gear: retractable
  • Engine 1: Cont Motor IO-470 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
  • Engine 2: Cont Motor I0-470 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
  • Fire on the ground
  • Operator: J S Leasing LLC

The flight

  • Departed from: 2K4 Mangum OK
  • Destination: 2K4 Mangum OK
  • Flight plan: none

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: at 4 knots
  • Visibility: 10 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
  • Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
  • Observation at 10:55 pm from KLTS, 30 miles away

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Flight crew1
Passengers2

Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report

11 documents, released by the NTSB on August 25, 2014. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.

The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.

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.