On December 23, 1999, a Beech 95-B55 (registration N8129R) was involved in an aviation accident near Hermiston, OR. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with terrain. Factors include a dark night, low ceilings and mist. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An aircraft on an IFR flight from Hermiston to Madras crashed shortly after departure, impacting terrain south of the runway. Low ceilings and darkness prevailed; no mechanical failure found.
Accident Details
An instrument flight rules (IFR) clearance was issued to the pilot shortly before departure from Hermiston, Oregon, to Madras, Oregon. The aircraft subsequently departed runway 04 at Hermiston Airport. A witness observed the aircraft enter a shallow right turn (south) after departure, but lost sight due to trees. Approximately five minutes later, local police received a report of a downed aircraft southeast of the airport.
Impact and Conditions
The aircraft impacted terrain approximately 1/4 mile south of the departure end of the runway in a right-wing-low attitude. The accident occurred during hours of darkness. Low ceilings and visibility were reported at the time. No evidence of mechanical malfunction or failure was found.