Beech 95-A55 accident near Woodland, California, November 22, 1990
On November 22, 1990 at about 1:20 am local time, a Beech 95-A55, registered N1594S, was destroyed in an accident near Woodland, California (Yolo County airport). It was a personal 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 PILOT'S MISJUDGEMENT OF HIS ALTITUDE TO ASSURE TERRAIN CLEARANCE DURING A NIGHT VISUAL APPROACH. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE DARK NIGHT, UNLIT TERRAIN, THE PILOT'S LACK OF RECENT NIGHT TIME, THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRPORT, AND AN IMPROPERLY PLANNED APPROACH.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 22, 1990 · about 1:20 am local time
- Place
- Woodland, California · Yolo County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 95-A55 · all 95-A55s on the register
- Registration
- N1594S · no longer on the register · serial TC-323
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AIRPLANE OBSERVED FLYING OVER RWY 34 IN A NORTHERLY DIRECTION AT ABOUT 200-300 FT AGL. THE ENGINES SOUNDED NORMAL. WRECKAGE LOCATED 1.5 MI NNW OF THE AIRPORT DISTRIBUTED ON A 086 DEG HEADING; PUBLISHED RIGHT TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR RWY 16. AREA RURAL FARMLAND, FEW SOURCES OF AMBIENT LIGHT. NO NIGHT TIME LOGGED PRECEDING 90 DAYS. NO RECORD OF PILOT FLYING INTO AIRPORT PREVIOUSLY.
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: 279 hours in all; 32 in this make and model; 49 in the last 90 days; 23 in the last 30 days; 182 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,365 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 12, 1990; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,880 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO 470L (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: CRQ Carlsbad CA at 10:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 320° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:46 am from SMF, 15 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.