Beech 95-55 accident near Safford, Arizona, September 28, 2006
On September 28, 2006 at about 1:15 am local time, a Beech 95-55, registered N9412Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Safford, Arizona (Safford Regional airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision and inaccurate fuel consumption calculations, which led to fuel exhaustion and total loss of power to both engines.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 28, 2006 · about 1:15 am local time
- Place
- Safford, Arizona · Safford Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 95-55 · all 95-55s on the register
- Registration
- N9412Y · no longer on the register · serial TC-25
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While on final approach, the airplane experienced a total loss of power to both engines and collided with terrain short of the runway. Prior to departure, the pilot purchased fuel for the 635 nautical mile cross-country flight. While en route he noticed the airplane was encountering headwind conditions. With the airplane about 3 miles from the destination airport, the pilot extended the landing gear and aligned the airplane on final approach. Shortly thereafter, both engines experienced a loss of power. The airplane descended rapidly and collided with terrain about 0.25 to 0.5 miles short of the runway. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. He stated that the engines lost power due to fuel exhaustion.
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: 750 hours in all; 130 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming IO-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming IO-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AUS Austin TX at 8:45 pm
- Destination: SAD Safford AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 310° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 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.