Beech B95 accident near Las Vegas, Nevada, November 3, 2017
On November 3, 2017, a 1959 Beech B95, registered N9628R, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Las Vegas, Nevada (North Las Vegas airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor’s inadequate preflight fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, a total loss of power to both engines, and a subsequent forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 3, 2017
- Place
- Las Vegas, Nevada · North Las Vegas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech B95 UNDESIGNAT, built 1959 · all B95s on the register
- Registration
- N9628R · no longer on the register · serial TD-304
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor and commercial pilot receiving instruction departed on a local instructional flight in the twin-engine airplane. The pilot receiving instruction indicated that each main fuel tank indicated about one-quarter full before departure, and the instructor stated to him that they could "run on the auxiliary tanks." The amount of fuel in the auxiliary tanks could not be recalled. After completing air work, the pilots were conducting an instrument approach to the departure airport when the left engine began to lose power. They continued the approach and shortly thereafter, the right engine also lost power. The instructor performed a forced landing to a golf course fairway, during which the airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and came to rest in a small lake. Examination of the airplane revealed that all of the fuel tanks were absent of fuel, and there was no evidence of fuel spillage at the accident site. Examination of the engines revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Given the available information, it is likely that the pilots departed with an inadequate amount of fuel onboard, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a total loss of power to both engines.
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
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
- Preflight or dispatch event during prior to flight
- Fuel exhaustion during approach defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Preflight inspection › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring equip/instruments › Pilot
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,000 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 7,000 as pilot in command; 4,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 16, 2017
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 4,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O $ VO-360 De (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VGT Las Vegas NV at 11:30 pm
- Destination: VGT Las Vegas NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12L, 4,199 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on January 27, 2021. 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, 14 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Witness Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Statement of Pilot Under Instruction | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Record of Email | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Fuel Document | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.