Beech 95-C55 accident near Fort Madison, Iowa, June 11, 1993
On June 11, 1993 at about 10:19 pm local time, a Beech 95-C55, registered N301U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fort Madison, Iowa (Fort Madison Municipal airport). It was a public-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot-in command's failure to maintain control of the aircraft. Factors were door not secured, checklist not followed, diverted attention of the pilot-in-command, and emergency procedure not followed.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 11, 1993 · about 10:19 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Madison, Iowa · Fort Madison Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 95-C55 · all 95-C55s on the register
- Registration
- N301U · no longer on the register · serial TE-209
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED CONTROLLED FLIGHT, ROLLED INVERTED AND IMPACTED THE TERRAIN. POST IMPACT EXAMINATION FAILED TO REVEAL ANY MECHANICAL OR PILOT ANOMALIES. SCRATCHES AND LACK OF DAMAGE TO LATCHING MECHANISMS REVEALED THAT THE COCKPIT/CABIN DOOR WAS OPEN AT THE TIME OF IMPACT.
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: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,935 hours in all; 90 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,420 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 1992; 70 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-C/CB (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Woodbury County Sheriff'S Dept
The flight
- Departed from: K27 at 10:19 pm
- Destination: SUX Sioux City IA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 4,002 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,100 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from BRL, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.