Beech 95 B55 (T42A) accident near Newnan, Georgia, October 25, 2013
On October 25, 2013 at about 7:30 pm local time, a 1966 Beech 95 B55 (T42A), registered N711H, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Newnan, Georgia (Newnan Coweta County Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor's inadvertent movement of the landing gear switch, which resulted in a landing gear collapse and substantial damage to the fuselage.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 25, 2013 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Newnan, Georgia · Newnan Coweta County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 95 B55 (T42A) A, built 1966 · all 95 B55 (T42A)s on the register
- Registration
- N711H · no longer on the register · serial TC-981
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the flight instructor, the airplane landed without incident during the instructional flight. During the landing roll he intended to retract the flaps but instead placed the landing gear switch in the "up" position. The flight instructor immediately returned the landing gear switch to the "down" position; however, the landing gear collapsed. The airplane slid about halfway down the runway before it came to rest, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. The flight instructor reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. According to the pilot operating handbook, "never rely on the safety switch to keep the gear down during taxi or on take-off, landing roll, or in a static position. Always make certain that the landing gear switch is in the down position during these operations."
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
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Landing gear selector › Unintentional use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Instructor/check pilot
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: 785 hours in all; 109 in this make and model; 282 in the last 90 days; 71 in the last 30 days; 730 as pilot in command; 474 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 31, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,129 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 3, 2013; 107 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,100 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental Motors IO-470 Series (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental Motors IO-470 Series (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Falcon Aviation Academy
The flight
- Departed from: DTS Destin FL at 6:00 pm
- Destination: CCO Newnan GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 32, 5,500 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.30 inHg
- Observation at 7:35 pm from CCO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| 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.