Beechcraft 95-A55 N2992F

Summary

On 3 July 1996 at about 22:45 local time, a Beechcraft 95-A55 registered N2992F, operated by Keith Hickman, was involved in an accident near Ardmore, Oklahoma, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 July 1996 at 22:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Ardmore, Oklahoma, United States

Nearest airport

Ardmore Downtown (1F0)

Coordinates

34.1902, -97.1097

Aircraft

Beechcraft 95-A55

Registration

N2992F

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Keith Hickman

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Denton

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW96LA298

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's inadvertent premature retraction of the landing gear during takeoff roll. A factor was inadequate supervision by the safety pilot/flight instructor.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot had purchased a 50-hour block of flight time in the airplane. His flight instructor agreed to fly as a safety pilot, with the pilot as PIC in order to meet insurance requirements. The pilot was performing the takeoff, while the instructor called out airspeeds and directed his attention inside and outside the cockpit. Passing 80 mph, the instructor maintained his vision outside the cockpit. The pilot felt the airplane 'hit a few dips in the runway' and both pilots heard a 'loud bang' from the right side and the flight instructor took command of the flight. Control was lost and the airplane veered left, crossed a taxiway and skidded into a ditch, where the airplane stopped. The instructor reported that the pilot's hand was on the throttles during the takeoff roll; however, once the 80 mph airspeed callout was made, he was not aware of the position of the pilot's hand. The pilot recalled having moved his hand to the trim; however, he 'did not remember touching the gear' selector switch. The operator and an FAA inspector examined the site and the aircraft landing gear system. They reported that damage to the gear doors was consistent with closed gear doors.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.