Beechcraft 95-B55 | N73WA

The DTSB determines the Probable Cause of this accident to be Pilot Error, in that the pilot took off with a known left engine electrical generator inoperative, and a previously known electrical problem that required ground battery charging before flight. The pilot chose runway 22, which is both uphill and less visual reference at night. After takeoff, the pilot likely leaned slightly forward when the landing gear failed to retract, looking for the landing gear switch or an associated landing gear circuit breaker, therefore allowing the control yoke ease slightly forward. The pilot became immediately distracted and pre-occupied with the landing gear abnormal and allowed the plane to both settle and turn right, likely with no landing light on, and no runway lights available for visual reference. The aircraft impacted terrain in a wings level attitude, after a right descending turn. The cause of this accident is the pilots mis-handled electrical abnormal. Contributing to the accident is the pilots lack of due care in operating an aircraft with a known electrical problem, and the very poor ADM exhibited in the decision to make a fully loaded night takeoff, with no runway lights, with questionable electrical system, in an aircraft that relies on DC voltage in order to retract the landing gear.

The DTSB recommends all pilots of all aircraft rehearse and become familiar with, and conditioned with the scenario of remaining wings level and setting a climb pitch via reference to the ADI, during periods of reduced visibility, and that pilots become conditioned to fly the airplane first, and deal with any abnormal second via AQP scenario training methods.