Beech 95 55 accident near Spring, Texas, July 14, 2020
On July 14, 2020 at about 5:40 pm local time, a 1961 Beech 95 55, registered N1332Z, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff (rejected takeoff) near Spring, Texas (David Wayne Hooks Memorial airport). It was an instructional 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
Excessive wear of the left brake liners which reduced brake effectiveness resulting in a runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 14, 2020 · about 5:40 pm local time
- Place
- Spring, Texas · David Wayne Hooks Memorial · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 95 55, built 1961 · all 95 55s on the register
- Registration
- N1332Z · registry record · serial TC-141
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The cabin entry door popped open during the takeoff roll. The pilot immediately rejected the takeoff; however, the airplane did not slow down. As the pilot attempted to exit onto a taxiway at the end of the runway, the airplane departed the pavement and came to rest in a ditch causing substantial damage to the forward fuselage, and damage to nose gear and propellers. During a postaccident inspection, a Federal Aviation Administration inspector determined that the left main landing gear brake disc was discolored consistent with overheating. The brake liners were worn at or beyond service limits. The right main landing gear brake disc and liners remained within service limits; although, the disc was warped. No other anomalies were observed.
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
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff (rejected takeoff) defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › (general) › Maintenance personnel
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 686 hours in all; 246 in this make and model; 136 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days; 591 as pilot in command; 386 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 24, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,352 hours in all; 954 in this make and model; 49 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 3,900 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 10, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,218.8 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 26, 2020; 148 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,100 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental Motors IO-470 (piston); 898 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental Motors IO-470 (piston); 1,200 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DWH Spring TX at 5:40 pm
- Destination: DWH Spring TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17R, 7,009 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from DWH, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
9 documents, released by the NTSB on October 9, 2020. 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.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Flight Instructor Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Pilot Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Accident Airplane Photos | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Conversation Summary -- FAA Inspector | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | FAA Airport Diagram / Chart Supplement -- Kdwh | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Maintenance Records -- Airframe Log | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Maintenance Manual (Excerpt) -- Landing Gear_wheels and Brakes | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 9 | Pilot's Operating Handbook (Excerpt) -- Takeoff Performance | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
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.