Beech D55 accident near Norman, Oklahoma, May 13, 1995
On May 13, 1995 at about 3:36 pm local time, a Beech D55, registered N993ES, was substantially damaged in an accident near Norman, Oklahoma (Max Westhimer Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADVERTENT RETRACTION OF THE LANDING GEAR, RESULTING IN A GEAR UP LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 13, 1995 · about 3:36 pm local time
- Place
- Norman, Oklahoma · Max Westhimer Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech D55 · all D55s on the register
- Registration
- N993ES · registry record · serial TE-748
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A SERIES OF TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS THE PILOT LANDED THE AIRCRAFT WITH THE LANDING GEAR RETRACTED. THE PILOT STATED THAT FOLLOWING THE LAST TOUCH AND GO HE FELT THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT CLIMBING SO HE REDUCED POWER TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF. HE ALSO REPORTED THAT HE NORMALLY RETRACTS THE FLAPS AND LEAVES THE GEAR DOWN AFTER HE LIFTS OFF.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 476 hours in all; 46 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 9, 1994
- Maximum gross weight: 5,300 lb
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OUN OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 5,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.