Beech D50 accident near Seattle, Washington, August 24, 1996
On August 24, 1996 at about 2:03 am local time, a Beech D50, registered N567SF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Seattle, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
failure of the pilot to follow proper emergency procedures (properly configure the airplane and feather the appropriate propeller) after loosing power in one engine, which resulted in his inability to maintain altitude until reaching an airport. Factors relating to the accident were: the loss of engine power in one engine for undetermined reason(s), the pilot's lack of experience in the make and model of airplane, his lack of recent flying experience, and his lack of familiarity with the geographic area.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 24, 1996 · about 2:03 am local time
- Place
- Seattle, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech D50 · all D50s on the register
- Registration
- N567SF · registry record · serial DH-57
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot's 1st flight in the Beech D50 was on the day of the accident. He made a local flight, then before departing on a cross-country flight to Seattle, he stated to a mechanic that he was unfamiliar with the aircraft's panel, but would familiarize himself with it during flight. Radio and radar data indicate that when the pilot contacted Seattle Approach Control, he was uncertain of his position. He was given vectors to Boeing Field, the destination. Although he was unfamiliar with Boeing Field, he reported that he had the runway and landing traffic in sight: however, he continued on toward the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac). The controller gave the pilot headings away from Sea-Tac. The pilot acknowledged the controller's instructions, but continued to fly directly toward Sea-Tac. After the controller gave urgent instructions to turn away from Sea-Tac, the pilot responded that an engine had lost power. Witnesses reported the aircraft made a shallow right turn toward an airport parking lot and was traveling slow with the landing gear extended. Subsequently, the aircraft collided with a light post and tops of trees near Sea-Tac, then it crashed and was further damaged by ground fire. Although some hydraulic tappet spalling and exhaust valve erosion was found in the left engine, no mechanical failure of either engine was found. Performance data showed the Beech D50 was capable of sustaining level flight or climbing with one propeller feathered and the landing gear retracted.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 138 hours in all; 76 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,456 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 5, 1996; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming GO-480-G2D13 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: COE Coeur D'Alene ID at 11:30 pm
- Destination: BFI WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 am from BFI, 4 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.