Beech 95-B55 accident near Norris, South Dakota, February 19, 2001
On February 19, 2001 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Beech 95-B55, registered N9927S, was destroyed in an accident near Norris, South Dakota. 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 pilot encountering instrument meteorological conditions and his subsequent loss of control of the airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 19, 2001 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Norris, South Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 95-B55 · all 95-B55s on the register
- Registration
- N9927S · no longer on the register · serial TC-1589
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was destroyed when it impacted rolling terrain. All of the airplane's occupants were fatally injured. The pilot was not instrument rated. Radar data for the last few minutes of the flight shows the airplane descending from a pressure altitude of 7,900 feet to 7,500 feet. The last radar return shows the airplane 289 degrees true and 2.27 nautical from the accident site at an altitude of 7,700 feet. Weather data obtained for the accident time indicates that the possibility of isolated instrument meteorological conditions existed along the airplane's route of flight. The airplane's route of flight coincided with an intensifying cold front in the area of the accident. The examination of the airplane, engines and related systems did not reveal any anomalies that could be associated with a pre-impact condition.
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
- Flight time: 1,382 hours in all; 13 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: March 12, 1999
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 16, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 5,100 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental IO-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental IO-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RAP Rapid City SD at 4:29 pm
- Destination: OFK Norfolk NE
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Wind: from 050° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 4:55 pm from PHP, 43 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.