Beech 95-C55 accident near Santa Monica, California, April 12, 2013
On April 12, 2013 at about 8:35 pm local time, a Beech 95-C55, registered N153NL, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Santa Monica, California (Santa Monica Municipal 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 left main wheel locking up during the landing roll, which resulted in the deflation of the tire, the left main landing gear collapse, and the subsequent loss of control during the runway exit.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 12, 2013 · about 8:35 pm local time · cases in 2013
- Place
- Santa Monica, California · Santa Monica Municipal Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 95-C55 · all 95-C55s on the register
- Registration
- N153NL · registry record · serial TE-5
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After touchdown and deceleration, as the airplane began to exit the runway, its left brake locked and the tire deflated. Shortly thereafter, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane spun about the left wing. A postaccident examination revealed that the left brake appeared normal and released properly, and the left main gear turned normally while the airplane was towed. However, the left main tire had a flat spot and had been worn completely through the tread and plies, indicative of the wheel being locked during the landing roll. The left main tire subsequently deflated and the left main landing gear collapsed, which resulted in the airplane veering sharply left during the turn to exit the runway.
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
What happened, in order
- Flight control sys malf/fail during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Malfunction other cases naming the landing gear
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,431 hours in all; 207 in this make and model; 1,282 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 18, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,565 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 2013; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,324 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Cont Motor IO 520 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Cont Motor IO 520 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MYF San Diego CA at 7:45 pm
- Destination: SMO Santa Monica CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 4,973 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 8:30 pm from SMO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on September 15, 2014. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | FAA Inspector Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N153NL on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Beechcraft 95 Travel Air and Baron 55 1,243 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Beechcraft 6 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Cont Motor IO 520 SERIES 9,482 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Cont Motor IO 520 SERIES 9,482 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Santa Monica Municipal · nearest airport
- Montgomery-Gibbs Executive · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,096 in the last ten years
- California 28,112 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR13LA189.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.