Beech 95-B55 accident near Novato, California, April 11, 1993
On April 11, 1993 at about 9:32 pm local time, a Beech 95-B55, registered N7041L, was destroyed in an accident near Novato, California (Hamilton Army Air Field). 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
A LOSS OF CONTROL FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON(S).
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 11, 1993 · about 9:32 pm local time
- Place
- Novato, California · Hamilton Army Air Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 95-B55 · all 95-B55s on the register
- Registration
- N7041L · registry record · serial 65-12728
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WINESSES HAD OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE MAKING HIGH-SPEED TAXI RUNS BEFORE DEPARTURE. AFTER LIFT-OFF, AT 100-150 FT AGL, THE AIRPLANE BANKED SHARPLY AND NOSED OVER INTO THE GROUND IN A NEAR VERTICAL ATTITUDE. BOTH ENGINES SOUNDED NORMAL. NO PRE-IMPACT FAILURE/MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND.
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: 489 hours in all; 39 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 31 in the last 30 days; 399 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,853 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 17, 1993; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Monterey Navy Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: SRF at 9:31 pm
- Destination: NUK Mountain View CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 8,000 ft by 400 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.