Beech 95-55 accident near Flagstaff, Arizona, October 3, 1982
On October 3, 1982 at about 9:10 am local time, a Beech 95-55, registered N72RT, was destroyed in an accident near Flagstaff, Arizona (Pulliam Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 5 people were killed. 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
- October 3, 1982 · about 9:10 am local time
- Place
- Flagstaff, Arizona · Pulliam Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 5 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 95-55 · all 95-55s on the register
- Registration
- N72RT · no longer on the register · serial TC-1403
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
TWO WITNESSES REPORTED THAT BETWEEN 0130 & 0200 THEY OBSERVED AN ACFT PERFORMING DIVES, LOOPS, INVERTED FLIGHT & BUZZINGA LAKE. THEY STOPPED THEIR VEHICLE & CONTINUED TO OBSERVE THE ACFT. THE ACFT THEN DEPARTED BUT RETURNED SHORTLY THEREAFTER. THE LAKE IS LOCATED ABOUT 5 MI SOUTH OF THE ACCIDENT SITE. THE ACFT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN ABOUT A 90 DEG NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE PLT'S BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL WAS 0.142%. ALL OF THE PASSENGERS BLOOD LEVEL WERE POSITIVE.
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: 2,431 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 1,442 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,132 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,100 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-E (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Taylor & Taylor Farms, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: FLG Flagstaff AZ
- Destination: FLG Flagstaff AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 115°F (46°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.