Incident Overview
On April 1, 2024, at approximately 1200 eastern daylight time, a Beech 95B55 airplane, registration N7371R, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing at Northeast Florida Regional Airport (SGJ) in St. Augustine, Florida. The aircraft was on a post-maintenance test flight after an extensive annual inspection. Both occupants—the pilot and a pilot-rated passenger who also served as a mechanic—were uninjured. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Sequence of Events
The pilot reported that after takeoff from SGJ, about 500 feet above ground level, he initiated a westward turn to reach an area suitable for engine break-in. At that moment, the airplane experienced a complete loss of electrical power. The pilot decided to return to SGJ for landing. Without radio communication, the pilot-rated passenger used a mobile phone to contact the control tower and declare an emergency.
Both occupants attempted to manually lower the landing gear using the emergency extension handle. They stated that they turned the handle until it would not turn further, but the pilot expressed doubt about whether the handle had been turned enough to achieve a fully down-and-locked position. The pilot-rated passenger asked the tower if the landing gear appeared extended; the tower responded that all three landing gear were visible but could not confirm full extension.
During the subsequent landing rollout, the right main landing gear collapsed. The airplane veered off the right side of the runway and struck a runway sign, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing.
Post-Accident Examination
An FAA inspector examined the wreckage but was unable to determine the cause of the electrical failure. Attempts to conduct a functional test of the landing gear were unsuccessful because of impact damage.
Probable Cause
The source does not provide a stated probable cause for the accident.