Beech 55-E55 accident near Daytona Beach, Florida, April 15, 1995
On April 15, 1995, a Beech 55-E55, registered N577M, was destroyed in an accident near Daytona Beach, Florida. 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 FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO MANAGE THE FUEL AVAILABLE IN FLIGHT BY IMPROPERLY SELECTING THE FUEL SELECTORS TO FUEL AVAILABLE IN OTHER TANKS, RESULTING IN BOTH ENGINES LOSING POWER. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 15, 1995
- Place
- Daytona Beach, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 55-E55
- Registration
- N577M · no longer on the register · serial TE 649
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD FLOWN ABOUT 2 HOURS 33 MINUTES WHEN HE ADVISED CONTROLLERS ON DUTY THAT HE WAS OUT OF FUEL, AND BOTH ENGINES HAD QUIT. THE AIRPLANE CRASHED ABOUT 3 MILES FROM THE AIRPORT AND EXPLODED AND BURNED FOR ABOUT 5 HOURS. THE RIGHT WING SEPARATED WHEN IT STRUCK A TREE AND WAS NOT IN THE MAIN WRECKAGE AREA. THERE WAS NO FUEL IN THE RIGHT MAIN NOR AUXILIARY FUEL TANK, NOR WAS ANY RESIDUE OF FUEL FOUND ON THE GROUND OR FOLIAGE NEAR THE RIGHT WING.
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: 1,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 4, 1994
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-C7B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: SYI Shelbyville TN at 9:46 pm
- Destination: 44J Spruce Creek FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 pm from DAB, 4 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.
Other NTSB records under N577M the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.