Beech 95-B55 accident near Van Nuys, California, June 11, 1983
On June 11, 1983 at about 9:29 pm local time, a Beech 95-B55, registered N6610K, was destroyed in an accident near Van Nuys, California (Burbank airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- June 11, 1983 · about 9:29 pm local time
- Place
- Van Nuys, California · Burbank · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech 95-B55 · all 95-B55s on the register
- Registration
- N6610K · no longer on the register · serial TC903
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA AFTER A LOSS OF CONTROL BY THE PLT. THE ACFT WAS CLIMBING THROUGH AN OVERCAST IN IFR CONDITIONS AND LAST REPORTED 'FOUR' IN RESPONSE TO A REQUEST FOR ALTITUDE. THIS WAS THE LAST RADIO TRANSMISSION RECEIVED FROM THE FLT. THE ACFT WAS SEEN BY WITNESSES DIVING VERTICALLY FROM THE CLOUDS. IT LEVELED OFF FOR A SHORT WHILE AND THEN WENT INTO A NOSE-UP 90 DEGREE BANK AT LOW ALTITUDE. IT CONTACTED THE GROUND IN A 90 DEGREE LEFT BANK AND CARTWHEELED. A TOTAL OF FIVE SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCES, THREE AUTOMOBILES AND SOME LANDSCAPING RECEIVED DAMAGE IN THE ACCIDENT. NO PERSONS ON THE GROUND WERE INJURED. THE WEATHER WAS REPORTED AS 1500 FT OVERCAST WITH TOPS 4000 TO 4300 FT.VISIBILITY 2 MILES IN HAZE. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED BOTH ENGINES OPERATING AT IMPACT. ALL ACFT COMPONENTS WERE ACCOUNTED FOR AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. SOME SMALL ITEMS OF FAIRING AND ALUMINUM SKIN WERE FOUND ALONG THE FLT PATH FORA DISTANCE OF 2 BLOCKS.
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: 6,000 hours in all; 2,100 in this make and model; 51 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 5,750 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,132 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 4, 1982; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-E2B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: BUR Burbank CA at 9:09 pm
- Destination: PRB Paso Robles CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 15, 6,902 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,500 ft; clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:31 pm from BUR, 3 miles away
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.