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 October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 12, 2013 · about 8:35 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Monica, California · Santa Monica Municipal 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 · no longer on the register · 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
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
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.