Beech E 55 accident near Blountville, Tennessee, November 5, 2013
On November 5, 2013 at about 4:15 pm local time, a 1976 Beech E 55, registered N1908L, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff (rejected takeoff) near Blountville, Tennessee (Tri-Cities Rgnl Tn/Va 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
The pilot's delayed reaction and loss of directional control while performing a simulated engine failure during the takeoff roll. A factor in the accident was the CFI's delayed reaction to the loss of directional control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 5, 2013 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- Blountville, Tennessee · Tri-Cities Rgnl Tn/Va · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech E 55, built 1976 · all E 55s on the register
- Registration
- N1908L · no longer on the register · serial TE-1084
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot and the certificated flight instructor (CFI), the intent of the flight was a proficiency check required by the pilot's insurance carrier, and that the accident occurred while performing a simulated engine failure during the takeoff roll. The pilot reported that after the CFI retarded the power on an engine, the airplane veered to the right. As the airplane exited the edge of the runway he attempted to ground loop it in order to avoid an antenna that was directly in their path. The CFI reported that the pilot "delayed in retarding the power." The CFI subsequently retarded both mixtures, in an attempt to stop the airplane. The airplane subsequently impacted an antenna, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage of the airplane. The CFI reported no abnormities with the airplane prior to the accident.
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
- Simulated/training event during takeoff
- 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 Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tower/antenna (incl guy wires) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,810 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 66 in the last 90 days; 37 in the last 30 days; 865 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 31, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, 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: 13,862 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 11,579 as pilot in command; 5,046 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 2, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 5,302 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental Motors IO 520 (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental Motors IO 520 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Tug Aviation INC
The flight
- Departed from: TRI Blountville TN at 3:30 pm
- Destination: TRI Blountville TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 05, 8,000 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 22,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.44 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from KTRI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.