Beech 55 accident near Delavan, Wisconsin, July 18, 1995
On July 18, 1995 at about 9:20 pm local time, a Beech 55, registered N3070W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Delavan, Wisconsin (Lake Lawn airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot misjudged the flare and improper recovery from a bounced landing. Lack of experience in the make and model aircraft was a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 18, 1995 · about 9:20 pm local time
- Place
- Delavan, Wisconsin · Lake Lawn · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 55
- Registration
- N3070W · registry record
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD A TOTAL OF 6.2 HOURS IN THE MAKE AND MODEL AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE EXPERIENCED A 'BURBLE' DURING THE LANDING FLARE. THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED TWICE BEFORE LANDING. DURING ROLLOUT THE NOSE WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE AIRPLANE RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 23,096 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 6 in the last 30 days; 14,096 as pilot in command; 6,700 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 5,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PWK Palwaukee IL at 8:30 pm
- Destination: C59
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 36, 4,423 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 10 knots, gusting 5
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.