Beech 95-C55 accident near Yelm, Washington, January 12, 2023
On January 12, 2023 at about 1:00 pm local time, a 1966 Beech 95-C55, registered N225V, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Yelm, Washington (Western Air Park airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to attain a proper touchdown point during landing with a tailwind which resulted in a runway over run. Contributing to the accident was a wet runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 12, 2023 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Yelm, Washington · Western Air Park · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 95-C55, built 1966 · all 95-C55s on the register
- Registration
- N225V · registry record · serial TE-123
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, during the approach for landing to a wet runway, he experienced a tailwind that pushed the airplane further down the runway than intended as he crossed the threshold. During the landing roll, the pilot applied the brakes but discovered that there was more standing water on the runway than expected, resulting in the airplane hydroplaning. The airplane subsequently overran the end of the runway onto soft ground and through trees resulting in substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Wet surface › Awareness of condition
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 25,000 hours in all; 1,476 in this make and model; 4.7 in the last 90 days; 2.5 in the last 30 days; 15,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 11, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,433 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 9, 2022; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental IO-520CB3 (piston); 1,299 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental IO-520CB40 (piston); 1,299 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 09, 2,849 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.81 inHg
- Observation at 12:55 pm from KGRF, 9 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KGRF 122055Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM -DZ BKN065 13/10 A2981 RMK AO2 RAB1958E16DZB16E18DZB35 SLP099 P0000 60002 T01250095 58013
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on March 23, 2023. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record A�� Telephone Interview, Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | 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.
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.