Beech 55 accident near West Chester, Pennsylvania, May 21, 2001
On May 21, 2001 at about 1:55 pm local time, a Beech 55, registered N4783M, was substantially damaged in an accident near West Chester, Pennsylvania (Brandywine Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The partial blockage of the pitot/static system, which led to an inaccurate airspeed indication, and resulted in an aborted takeoff and runway overrun. A factor was the wet runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 21, 2001 · about 1:55 pm local time
- Place
- West Chester, Pennsylvania · Brandywine Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech 55
- Registration
- N4783M · no longer on the register · serial TE-1131
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the airspeed indicator would not exceed 65 knots during the takeoff roll. He aborted the takeoff, but the airplane continued off the end of the runway, and came to rest in a parking lot. An airspeed calibration test was performed, and the airspeed indicator read about 10 knots higher than the test equipment. Further examination of the system revealed that the pitot tube was blocked with a "corrosion-type material". The airspeed indicator was then removed from the airplane and bench tested. The indicator read about 4-5 knots higher than the test equipment. The most recent pitot-static system check was performed on March 14, 2001.
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: 864 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 813 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 20, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,359 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 3, 2000; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,324 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N99 West Chester PA at 4:55 pm
- Destination: RDG Reading PA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 09, 3,347 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 900 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 1:54 pm from PHL, 16 miles away
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.