Beechcraft B55 N816FW

Summary

On 16 August 1989 at about 16:05 local time, a Beechcraft B55 registered N816FW, operated by Richard B. Wright, was involved in an accident near Orange, Virginia, United States. 4 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

16 August 1989 at 16:05

Classification

Accident

Location

Orange, Virginia, United States

Nearest airport

Orange, Co (W93)

Coordinates

38.2397, -78.1094

Aircraft

Beechcraft B55

Registration

N816FW

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Richard B. Wright

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Jacksonville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

BFO89LA072

Nobody was injured.

THE TAKEOFF WAS REJECTED WHEN THE PILOT WAS STARTLED BY THE SOUND FROM THE EMERGENCY WINDOW EXIT WHICH WAS INADVERTENTLY OPENED BY A PASSENGER. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE AIRCRAFT IN TIME TO AVOID OVERRUNNING THE RUNWAY.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PLT SAID HE WAS ON TAKEOFF ROLL, NEAR LIFT OFF SPEED, AND HALF-WAY DOWN THE 3200 LONG RUNWAY WHEN, UNKNOWN TO HIM, THE ELEVEN YEAR OLD PASSENGER IN THE SECOND ROW RIGHT SEAT OPENED THE EMERGENCY WINDOW. THE PLT SAID HE HEARD A LOUD POP AND RUSH OF AIR. THE PLT SAID HE THOUGHT THAT EITHER A DOOR HAD OPENED OR A TIRE HAD BLOWN, SO HE ABORTED THE TAKEOFF. THE PLT SAID HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE ACFT ON THE WET RUNWAY BEFORE IT PAST THE RUNWAY END AND CAME TO A STOP IN A DITCH.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.