Beech D55 accident near Livermore, California, November 13, 1986
On November 13, 1986 at about 1:55 am local time, a Beech D55, registered N8386N, was destroyed in an accident near Livermore, California (Livermore airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 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
- November 13, 1986 · about 1:55 am local time
- Place
- Livermore, California · Livermore · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech D55 · all D55s on the register
- Registration
- N8386N · no longer on the register · serial TE-555
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT STARTED THE TAKEOFF ROLL, BECAME AIRBORNE AT ABOUT 1000 FEET DOWN THE RUNWAY, CLIMBED TO AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 50 FEET, ROLLED TO THE LEFT AND CRASHED INVERTED ONTO A PARALLEL TAXIWAY AT ABOUT MID FIELD. THERE WAS NO FIRE. EXAM OF WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE FUEL SEL FOR RT ENG WAS ON RT MAIN WHILE SEL FOR LT ENG WAS ON AUX FUEL TK. OP MANUAL STATES THEY SHOULD BOTH BE ON MAINS FOR TKOF. LT PROPS WERE FD NEARLY STRAIGHT WHILE RT PROPS WERE FOUND BENT REARWARD.
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: 2,425 hours in all; 256 in this make and model; 52 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,216 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 2, 1986; 71 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-C2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: O08 Colusa CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 7, 4,000 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 070° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 am from LVK
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.