Beech A24R accident near Yakima, Washington, September 3, 1995
On September 3, 1995 at about 1:25 am local time, a Beech A24R, registered N9726Q, was destroyed in an accident near Yakima, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM A TREE. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S POOR JUDGMENT AND OSTENTATIOUS DISPLAY TO BUZZ.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 3, 1995 · about 1:25 am local time
- Place
- Yakima, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A24R · all A24Rs on the register
- Registration
- N9726Q · no longer on the register · serial MC-78
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES REPORTED OBSERVING THE AIRPLANE PERFORMING AEROBATIC MANEUVERS WHICH INCLUDED LOW-LEVEL FLIGHT, STEEP TURNS, INVERTED FLIGHT, AND WINGOVERS. THE AIRPLANE MADE A STEEP RIGHT TURN OVER A NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE, AND WHEN THE WINGS LEVELED THE NOSE DROPPED AND THE AIRPLANE STRUCK AN 80-FOOT TALL PINE TREE WITH ITS RIGHT WING TIP. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED FOR 91 FEET BEFORE COLLIDING WITH THE TERRAIN IN AN INVERTED POSITION.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 785 hours in all; 30 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,282 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 18, 1995; 31 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: YKM WA at 1:00 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.