Beech D95 accident near Bahama, North Carolina, October 21, 2014
On October 21, 2014 at about 2:44 pm local time, a 1964 Beech D95, registered N64GM, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (climb to cruise) near Bahama, North Carolina. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilots' failure to maintain adequate airspeed during climb, which resulted in the airplane's wing exceeding its critical angle-of-attack and a subsequent aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's decision to conduct a training flight in an airplane equipped with a single throw-over-type control wheel.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 21, 2014 · about 2:44 pm local time
- Place
- Bahama, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech D95 A, built 1964 · all D95s on the register
- Registration
- N64GM · no longer on the register · serial TD-592
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor, who had recently purchased the multiengine airplane, was providing flight instruction to a non-multiengine-rated private pilot (the student). A witness reported that the flight departed uneventfully, and radar data indicated that the airplane climbed to and leveled off about 1,000 ft above ground level. The airplane's calculated airspeed initially increased to about 130 knots (kts) and then, about 3 minutes into the flight, began to decrease. About 30 seconds later, the airplane began to climb while continuing to lose airspeed. For the final seconds of the flight, the airplane's calculated airspeed was less than 50 kts and close to its expected stall speed. The airplane then entered a rapid descent, and its track deviated to the left. Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane impacted trees and terrain in a near-vertical attitude. The airplane's rapid loss of altitude and vertical impact were consistent with the airplane's decaying airspeed resulting in the exceedance of its critical angle-of-attack and a subsequent aerodynamic stall. Examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure of the airframe or either engine. The airplane was equipped with a single throw-over-type control wheel (for elevator and aileron control) and two sets of rudder pedals. The control wheel was found positioned to the left seat, where the student was seated. The student survived the accident but was unable to recall any of the events that transpired during the flight. Thus, the specific sequence of events that resulted in the airplane's eventual aerodynamic stall could not be determined. Regardless, the configuration of the airplane's control wheel would not have allowed the flight instructor to take control of the airplane in order to prevent or recover from the stall.
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
- Loss of control in flight during enroute (climb to cruise) defining event
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during enroute (climb to cruise)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Instructor/check pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Instructor/check pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 23,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
Dual student
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,589 hours in all
- Last flight review: December 6, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,780 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 21, 2014; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming IO-360B1B (piston); 1,789 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming IO-360B1B (piston); 1,789 hours total
- Operator: Carolina Barnstormers Inc
The flight
- Departed from: 8NC8 Durham NC at 2:40 pm
- Destination: 8NC8 Durham NC
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 200 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 pm from KTDF, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
10 documents, released by the NTSB on December 12, 2016. 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 | Witness Interview Summaries | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Interview Summary - Left Seat Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | radar Data Plots | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Personal Electronic Device Specialist's Factual Report | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Aircraft Maintenance Records (Excerpts) | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Toxicological Report | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Aircraft Performance | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 9 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 10 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 and Release of Evidence | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N64GM the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
1983-07-08MIA83FA178 · accident near Vero Beach, FL · destroyed · serious injuries
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.