Beech 95-B55 accident near Sutter, CA
On February 22, 1998, a Beech 95-B55 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Sutter, CA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- February 22, 1998
- Place
- Sutter, CA
- Aircraft
- Beech 95-B55 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 39.050°N, 121.609°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001211X09563
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On February 21, 1998, at 1640 hours Pacific standard time, a Beech 95-B55, N67623, owned and operated by the pilot, collided with rising terrain about 3 nautical miles (nmi) northwest of Sutter, California. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed in the vicinity of the accident site, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and by a postimpact ground fire. The instrument rated commercial pilot and the passenger was fatally injured. The personal flight, operated under 14 CFR Part 91, originated from the Chico Municipal Airport, Chico, California, at 1620. Prior to the pilot's departure the pilot spoke with his daughter at the Chico Airport. According to the daughter, her father indicated that he and his wife planned to depart from Chico and fly southbound toward their home near the Taft-Kern County Airport. However, should the en route weather become inclement, the pilot planned to reverse course and return to Chico. On duty Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) controllers at the Chico Airport Air Traffic Control Tower reported that N67623 departed using runway 13. After proceeding straight out for a few minutes, the airplane turned southbound and they had no further visual contact with it. Near the time of the accident four witnesses in the vicinity of Sutter reported observing and/or hearing a low flying airplane. In summary, none of the witnesses reported hearing any engine backfiring or sputtering sounds. The witnesses generally reported that the airplane reversed its course while flying in and out of the low ele
Probable cause
The pilot's in-flight decision(s) to attempt VFR flight in instrument meteorological conditions at an altitude which did not provide for adequate terrain clearance requirements. A factor that contributed to the accident was the pilot's decision to disregard the preflight weather briefing he obtained, which advised against visual flight along his intended route.
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Browse: California · Beech aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
