Beech 58 accident near Los Angeles, California, May 18, 1996
On May 18, 1996 at about 6:44 pm local time, a Beech 58, registered N58KD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Los Angeles, California (Whiteman airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
an interruption of fuel flow to the right engine for undetermined nonmechanical reasons. A contributing factor was the pilot's failure to keep the right engine's propeller feathered which reduced the airplane single engine performance capabilities.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 18, 1996 · about 6:44 pm local time
- Place
- Los Angeles, California · Whiteman
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 58 · all 58s on the register
- Registration
- N58KD · no longer on the register · serial TH-895
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that in preparation for the flight he added 60 gallons of fuel to his airplane. He performed a preflight inspection which included draining the fuel sumps and no evidence of contaminants. Both engines started normally and no discrepancies were observed during the pre-takeoff engine and propeller checks. The pilot reported that during takeoff, the airplane lifted off the runway at the same approximate location. A positive rate of climb was established, and the landing gear was retracted. The right engine suddenly lost all power and the fuel flow indicator read 0 gallons per hour. The pilot turned on the fuel boost pump, but the engine did not restart and the propeller was feathered. Afterwards, the pilot unfeathered the right engine's propeller, pushed the right throttle forward, and again turned the boost pump on. None of these actions restored the engine's power and the airplane would not maintain altitude. Unable to return to the airport, the pilot made a forced landing on the rough terrain of a nearby golf course. The FAA examined the airplane and associated maintenance records. No discrepancies were found with the fuel pump, fuel metering unit, manifold valve, and the injector lines and nozzles.
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: 2,939 hours in all; 1,029 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,190 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 14, 1995; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WHP at 6:43 pm
- Destination: IZA Santa Ynez CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 4,120 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.