Beech 95-B55 accident near Commerce, Texas, November 28, 1987
On November 28, 1987 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Beech 95-B55, registered N5934S, was destroyed in an accident near Commerce, Texas. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 28, 1987 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Commerce, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 95-B55 · all 95-B55s on the register
- Registration
- N5934S · registry record · serial TC-997
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS TO SATISFY AN INSURANCE REQUIREMENT THAT THE OWNER RECEIVE 10 HOURS OF DUAL INSTRUCTION IN THIS AIRCRAFT. THE DUAL CONTROLS HAD BEEN REMOVED AND THE SINGLE CONTROL WAS ON THE LEFT SIDE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED IN A CLOCKWISE FLAT SPIN UP TO IMPACT. THE LANDING GEAR WAS DOWN AS WERE THE FLAPS. THE LEFT ENGINE WAS AT FULL POWER WHILE THE RIGHT THROTTLE WAS IN THE IDLE POSITION AND THE PROPELLER CONTROL WAS IN THE FEATHER POSITION. THE PROPELLER WAS AGAINST THE START LOCK PINS. NO MALFUNCTIONS WERE FOUND. THE CFI, WHO WAS IN THE RIGHT SEAT, HAD .5 HRS OF FLT TIME IN BEECH 95-B55'S. FAR'S PROHIBIT THE CFI FROM ACTING AS THE PIC IN MULTIENGINE ACFT WITHOUT DUAL CONTROLS INSTALLED.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 724 hours in all; 54 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 653 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,751 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 15, 1987; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-E2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TKI Mckinney TX at 4:30 pm
- Destination: TKI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:49 pm from DAL, 70 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.