Beech 95 55 accident near Gulf Shores, Alabama, June 26, 2014
On June 26, 2014 at about 9:45 pm local time, a 1960 Beech 95 55, registered N9411Y, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Gulf Shores, Alabama (Jack Edwards airport). It was a personal 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 improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 26, 2014 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Gulf Shores, Alabama · Jack Edwards · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 95 55, built 1960 · all 95 55s on the register
- Registration
- N9411Y · no longer on the register · serial TC-23
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that there were no problems with the airplane's performance and handling throughout the flight. He further stated that, after the airplane had touched down for the second time (witnesses reported that the airplane bounced after landing) and had slowed to about 30 knots during the landing roll, he felt a "shimmy" coming from the airplane's nose area. The nose landing gear then collapsed, and the airplane slid on its nose until it stopped partially off the side of the runway. The airframe sustained substantial damage. According to one witness, the airplane's approach speed was "excessive," and the airplane landed in a flat attitude and then bounced. Another witness stated that the airplane touched down on all three landing gear, bounced, and then touched down a second time on the nose landing gear. Examination of the wreckage revealed overstress damage consistent with a hard landing.
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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 4,000 hours in all; 800 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,526 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 11, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 4,883 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cont Motor IO-470 SERIES (piston); 1,205 hours total
- Engine 2: Cont Motor I0-470 SERIES (piston); 1,205 hours total
The flight
- Destination: JKA Gulf Shores AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09, 6,962 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,200 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 pm from JKA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on April 7, 2015. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record – Pilot Interview | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for Record – Airport Incident Narrative | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Memorandum for Record – FAA Inspector | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Witness Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Photo 1 – Airplane as Found (Photo Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Photo 2 - Forward Cabin Buckling (Photo Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | Photo 3 - Torn and Cut Front Tire (Photo Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.