The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recently issued its Preliminary Report on the crash of a Beech 95-B55 (Baron), N5868S, on October 1, 2024, at about 1540 Eastern daylight time, near Crystal River, Florida.
Sadly, the aircraft’s owner, pilot, and lone occupant, John Robert Holloway, 69, of North Port, Florida, died as a result of the plane crash.
Preliminary findings from the initial investigation raise concerns about the aircraft’s left engine and the significant difficulties Mr. Holloway faced prior to the accident.
The NTSB found that the left engine remained attached to the wing following the accident, but that:
“[a] 10-inch hole was observed on the engine crankcase above the No. 5 cylinder. The Nos. 5 and 6 connecting rods were separated from their pistons and broken connecting rod fragments were located inside the engine case.”
These findings strongly suggest a catastrophic engine failure prior to the aircraft crash. Further evidence suggests that Mr. Holloway, once confronted with a catastrophic engine failure, applied emergency procedures in an attempt to deal with the unfolding emergency. The NTSB found that the left engine’s propeller blades “appeared to be in a feathered position.”
Emergency procedures in twin-engine propeller general aviation aircraft, such as a Beechcraft Baron 55, call for, among other things, “feathering” the engine propeller blades once an engine fails.
“Feathering” and engine is simply changing the pitch of the propeller blades by adjusting the blades, so they are pitched into the wind to reduce the propeller’s drag from the non-working engine. Reducing the drag of the propeller on the inoperative engine is of utmost importance when operating a light twin-engine aircraft with an engine failure. Airspeed and airflow over the wing are crucial to maintaining controlled flight.
Despite Mr. Holloway’s efforts, a witness reported seeing the aircraft’s left wing dip sharply. The aircraft entered a spiraling descent, completing two revolutions before descending below the tree line.
The NTSB will continue its investigation and publish final report on the accident. Final reports are usually made available within eighteen months of the accident. ALG believes the NTSB will focus on the maintenance records and findings related to what appears to be a catastrophic engine failure. The NTSB will also look to the loss of control and subsequent low-level spin that resulted despite the pilot’s efforts to deal with an unexpected emergency.
Aviation Law Group (ALG) is an aviation accident law firm with over thirty (30) years of experience handling complex aviation accident cases for victims and victims’ families. Our attorneys are licensed in Florida, California, Washington State, Hawaii, and Alaska. ALG attorney Chris Rusing is familiar with the flight characteristics of the Beechcraft Baron aircraft having logged over 100 hours flying and instructing in the aircraft.
If you have any information that might be helpful to our investigation, please contact us by emailing Aviation Law Group at info@aviationlawgroup.com.
The full text of the preliminary report follows.