Beech 33-A accident near Lago Vista, Texas, January 25, 1995
On January 25, 1995 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Beech 33-A, registered N55VS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lago Vista, Texas (Lago Vista Airpark 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 instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO EXECUTE A MISSED APPROACH AT MINIMUMS FOR THE NON-PRECISION APPROACH AND AN EXCESSIVE RATE OF DESCENT DURING THE CIRCLE TO LAND MANEUVER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 25, 1995 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lago Vista, Texas · Lago Vista Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech 33-A
- Registration
- N55VS · registry record · serial BE-1305
- 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 AFTER EXECUTING A CIRCLING VOR/DME APPROACH, HE DID NOT HAVE VISUAL REFERENCE WITH THE AIRPORT UNITL THE AIRPLANE WAS 'ALMOST ON TOP OF THE RUNWAY' AT 600 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL (AGL). HE COMMENCED A DESCENDING, 'TIGHT' RIGHT TURN TO KEEP THE RUNWAY IN SIGHT. DESCENDING BELOW 300 FEET, THE PILOT CONTINUED A 'STEEP' TURN ON A 45 DEGREE BEARING TO THE RUNWAY TO INTERCEPT FINAL. HE STATED THAT AS HE 'STARTED TO LEVEL THE WINGS TO LAND, THE AIRCRAFT JUST DROPPED.' THE PILOT FURTHER STATED THAT 'THE RIGHT WING IMPACTED THE RUNWAY AND THE AIRPLANE SKIDDED OFF THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY.' THE PILOT REPORTED WEATHER CONDITIONS OF FOG AND DRIZZLE DURING THE APPROACH. THE PUBLISHED MISSED APPROACH POINT FOR THE APPROACH WAS 5 MILES FROM THE FINAL APPROACH FIX AND 7/10 MILE NORTHWEST OF THE RUNWAY MIDPOINT.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,727 hours in all; 1,927 in this make and model; 125 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 2,727 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 100 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MLU Monroe LA at 8:00 pm
- Destination: 5R3 TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 33, 3,804 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 600 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.