Beech D55 accident near Kingsburg, California, August 17, 1995
On August 17, 1995 at about 8:14 pm local time, a Beech D55, registered N4884J, was destroyed in an accident near Kingsburg, California (Visalia airport). It was an instructional 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 failure of the pilot to maintain sufficient airspeed during a simulated engine failure to avoid an inadvertent stall/spin, and inadequate supervision by the designated pilot examiner. A factor in the accident was the decision of the examiner to use an airplane without dual flight controls during a multiengine airplane flight test.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 17, 1995 · about 8:14 pm local time
- Place
- Kingsburg, California · Visalia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech D55 · all D55s on the register
- Registration
- N4884J · no longer on the register · serial TE 492
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The purpose of the flight was for the designated pilot examiner to reexamine the private pilot for a multiengine class rating flight test. During the previous flight test, the applicant pilot failed to maintain altitude during a simulated engine failure while flying a practice instrument approach under simulated instrument conditions. Thereafter, the pilot received 1.5 hours of remedial flight instruction from his flight instructor. During the accident flight test, radar data showed the airplane paralleling the outbound course of the VOR instrument approach at the procedure turn altitude. Witnesses observed the airplane descending in a flat spin and crash into an open field. Examination of the wreckage revealed the right engine's propeller blades had damage to all three blades consistent with rotation. The left engine's propeller blades had one blade undamaged and two blades bent aft. No evidence was found indicating that any of the blades had been feathered; and no evidence was found of any mechanical malfunctions. The airplane was equipped with a throw over type of control column for elevator and aileron control and was located in front of the applicant. The decision to use an airplane without dual flight controls is at the discretion of the examiner.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 521 hours in all; 34 in this make and model; 59 in the last 90 days; 32 in the last 30 days; 302 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,444 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 14, 1994; 100 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VIS Visalia CA at 8:08 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 6,556 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 500 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 pm from NLC, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.