Beech 95-B55 accident near Hermiston, Oregon, December 23, 1999
On December 23, 1999 at about 3:00 am local time, a Beech 95-B55, registered N8129R, was destroyed in an accident near Hermiston, Oregon. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with terrain. Factors include a dark night, low ceilings and mist.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 23, 1999 · about 3:00 am local time
- Place
- Hermiston, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech 95-B55 · all 95-B55s on the register
- Registration
- N8129R · no longer on the register · serial TC-1738
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Shortly before departure, the pilot was issued an instrument flight rules (IFR) clearance from Hermiston, Oregon to Madras, Oregon. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft departed the airport from runway 04. A witness observed the aircraft enter a shallow turn to the right (south) shortly after departure, however, he lost sight of the aircraft due to trees obscuring his view. Approximately 5 minutes later, the local police received report of a downed aircraft southeast of the airport. The aircraft impacted terrain approximately 1/4 mile south of the departure end of the runway, in a right wing low attitude. The accident occurred during the hours of darkness. Low ceilings and visibility were reported at the time of the accident. No evidence was found to indicate a mechanical malfunction or failure.
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: 2,870 hours in all; 346 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,902 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 14, 1999; 155 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,100 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HRI OR at 3:00 am
- Destination: S33 Madras OR
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 080° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 300 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:19 am from HRI, 1 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.