Beech 95-B55 accident near Plant City, Florida, April 23, 1995
On April 23, 1995 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Beech 95-B55, registered N6855Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Plant City, Florida (Plant City Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION, AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN VMC.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 23, 1995 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Plant City, Florida · Plant City Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 95-B55 · all 95-B55s on the register
- Registration
- N6855Z · no longer on the register · serial TC1108
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER LANDING THE PILOTS PERFORMED 4 RAPID RIGHT TURNS TO TAXI BACK FOR TAKEOFF. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL THE AIRPLANE KEPT VEERING TO THE LEFT. THE PILOTS WERE CONCERNED WITH THE REMAINING RUNWAY AND ROTATED AT ABOUT 85 KTS. AFTER LIFT OFF THE LEFT ENGINE LOST POWER. THE AIRPLANE ROLLED INVERTED AND CRASHED. EXAMINATION OF THE LEFT MAIN FUEL CELL REVEALED THAT THE ANTI-SLOSH BAFFLE INSPECTION ZIPPER WAS OPEN, WHICH WOULD ALLOW UNPORTING OF THE LEFT MAIN FUEL SUPPLY PICKUP LINE. THE ZIPPER IS REQUIRED TO BE OPENED, AN INSPECTION MADE, AND THEN CLOSED DURING EACH ANNUAL INSPECTION. THE ZIPPER APPEARED TO BE CORRODED.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,000 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 4,850 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,999 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1995; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PCM
- Destination: X16 Tampa FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,300 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 pm from TPA, 23 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.