Beech B55 accident near Ada, Oklahoma, May 12, 1988
On May 12, 1988 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Beech B55, registered N7330R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ada, Oklahoma (Ada Municipal 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 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
- May 12, 1988 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Ada, Oklahoma · Ada Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech B55 · all B55s on the register
- Registration
- N7330R · no longer on the register · serial TC-1788
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT SAID ALL PRE-FLT PREP WERE NORMAL INCLUDING AN ENG RUN-UP. THE TAKEOFF WAS BEING MADE WITH LIGHT WINDS. AFTER ROLLING ABOUT 300 FT THE ACFT BEGAN A SWERVE TO THE RT WHICH THE PLT PERCEIVED WAS ASSOCIATED WITH A LOSS OF PWR ON THE RT ENG. THE PLT INITIATED AN ABORT AND BEGAN HEAVY BRAKING. THE ACFT CONTINUED IN A RT SWERVE AND DEPARTED THE RT SIDE OF THE RWY. THE FIELD ADJACENT TO THE RWY WAS PLOWED AND WAS ROUGH AND UNEVEN. WHEN THE NOSE WHEEL ENCOUNTERED A 12 IN DEEP FURROW THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE ACFT NOSED OVER. FAA EXAMINED THE WRECKAGE AND COULD NOT FIND ANY EVIDENCE TO EXPLAIN THE REPORTED LOSS OF PWR. THE INSPECTOR SAID LOCKED BRAKE SKID MARKS WERE FOUND ON THE RWY WHICH COULD BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE MAIN GEAR OF THE ACDT ACFT. HE SAID THE SKID MARKS BEGAN OPPOSITE EACH OTHER AND LED TO THE FINAL RESTING PLACE OF THE ACFT.
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
- Flight time: 1,704 hours in all; 491 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 1,686 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,767 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 30, 1988
- Maximum gross weight: 5,100 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ADH at 8:30 pm
- Destination: SWO Stillwater OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:54 pm from ADM, 36 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.