Beech 95B55 accident near St. Augustine, Florida, April 1, 2024
On April 1, 2024 at about 4:00 pm local time, a 1974 Beech 95B55, registered N7371R, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near St. Augustine, Florida (Northeast Florida Regional Air airport). It was a flight test 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 incomplete extension of the landing gear into the down-and-locked position for reasons that could not be determined. .
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 1, 2024 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- St. Augustine, Florida · Northeast Florida Regional Air · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 95B55 B, built 1974 · all 95B55s on the register
- Registration
- N7371R · no longer on the register · serial TC-1722
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and the pilot-rated passenger, who was also a mechanic, were conducting a post-maintenance flight test after an extensive annual inspection of the airplane. Shortly after takeoff, the airplane lost complete electrical power. The pilot turned back toward the airport, while the pilot-rated passenger contacted the control tower with his mobile phone and declared an emergency. The pilot said that he, with some help from the pilot-rated passenger, attempted to manually lower the landing gear with the emergency gear extension handle; however, he may not have been able to get the landing gear fully extended to the down and locked position. When the airplane touched down on the runway, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane went off the right side of the runway and collided with a runway sign, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing. A postaccident examination of the airplane’s electrical system revealed no mechanical issues and the reason for the loss of electrical power could not be determined from the available information. A functional test of the landing gear system could not be performed due to damage sustained during 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
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during initial climb defining event
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Gear extension and retract sys › Unknown/Not determined
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Electrical power system › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,915 hours in all; 3,992 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 6,725 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 19, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Other crew
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,391 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 5,100 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental IO-470-L (piston); 12 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental IO-470-L (piston); 12 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 8,001 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,700 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 12:18 pm from SGJ
Weather report (METAR): SPECI KSGJ 011618Z 18009KT 10SM SCT037 26/16 A3012 RMK AO2 ACFT MSHP PNO $=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 5 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Accident Airplane Off Runway
Photograph 2 – Right Wing Damage
Photograph 3 – Right Wing Damage
Photograph 4 – Lower Fuselage Damage
Photograph 5 – Landing Gear Extension Handle DeployedThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on April 3, 2026. 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record A�� Pilot Interview | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Pilot-rated Passenger Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Memorandum for Record A�� Interview with FAA Inspector | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 6 pages · our copy | 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.