Beech BE-95-A55 accident near Louisville, Kentucky, September 4, 2004
On September 4, 2004 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Beech BE-95-A55, registered N9779Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Louisville, Kentucky (Standiford Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The improper refueling of the left auxiliary fuel tank, which resulted in an overflow of fuel, and a subsequent explosion in the left wing during engine start.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 4, 2004 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Louisville, Kentucky · Standiford Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech BE-95-A55
- Registration
- N9779Y · registry record · serial TC-440
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Upon landing at the destination airport, the pilot was informed that he would have to pay a ramp and parking fee, or buy a minimum of 15 gallons of fuel. Even though the airplane would not require any additional fuel for the subsequent flight, the pilot opted to buy fuel to avoid paying the fees. While the refueler was servicing the left auxiliary fuel tank, he allowed between 1 and 5 gallons to overflow. About 15 minutes later, the pilot attempted to start the left engine, and simultaneously, an explosion occurred in the left wing. The engine did not start, but the pilot thought that it backfired at the time of the explosion. Examination of the left wing revealed damage consistent with an internal explosion, and that the fuel cells were intact, full of fuel, and not leaking.
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: 2,938 hours in all; 1,058 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: February 9, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,400 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 31, 2004
- Maximum gross weight: 4,900 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental IO-470 (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental IO-470 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: SDF Louisville KY
- Destination: BNA Nashville TN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 8:56 pm from SDF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.