Beech 95-B55 accident near Carlsbad, California, November 22, 2007
On November 22, 2007, a Beech 95-B55, registered N1831L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Carlsbad, California (Mc Clellan-Palomar Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper flare resulting in a porpoise and hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 22, 2007
- Place
- Carlsbad, California · Mc Clellan-Palomar Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 95-B55 · all 95-B55s on the register
- Registration
- N1831L · no longer on the register · serial TC-1960
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
As the nosewheel settled onto the runway during landing, the pilot felt a strong vibration in the rudder pedals and he abruptly applied backpressure on the control yoke and the airplane became airborne again. As the pilot relieved the backpressure on the control yoke, the airplane landed on the nosewheel and started to porpoise. After four oscillations, the airplane slowed to a point where the pilot was able to initiate a turn onto a taxiway. As the airplane exited the runway, the nose of the airplane settled onto the asphalt surface. Examination of the airplane revealed that the fuselage was buckled along the cabin area above the left and right wing roots. The nosewheel was found separated from the piston and fork assembly. No anomalies were noted with the flight control system or nose wheel fork and strut assembly. Examination of the nosewheel axel and rim fractures disclosed features and deformation that were consistent with overstress fractures and no evidence of preexisting cracks was observed. The inner race and rolling elements of the left bearing were displaced to the left and bent in the area of the displacement. The upper surface of the axle exhibited a circumferential crack at the location corresponding to the right edge of the left bearing inner race. An impact mark was observed on the upper surface of the axle consistent with heavy contact to the left bearing inner race.
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, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 24,044 hours in all; 83 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 18,317 as pilot in command; 3,578 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,500.0 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 2007; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Teledyne Continental IO-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CRQ Carlsbad CA at 6:07 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 4,897 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,100 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 6:01 pm from CRQ
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.