Beech 95-B55 accident near Batesville, Arkansas, December 24, 2008
On December 24, 2008 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Beech 95-B55, registered N8775R, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Batesville, Arkansas (Batesville Regional Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper decision to land with a tailwind which resulted in the overrun landing. Factors contributing to the accident include the culvert and the tailwind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 24, 2008 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Batesville, Arkansas · Batesville Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 95-B55 · all 95-B55s on the register
- Registration
- N8775R · no longer on the register · serial TC-1782
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the twin-engine airplane landed long, ran off the end of the runway, and subsequently impacted a concrete culvert. The pilot was able to exit the airplane unassisted; however, the passenger on board had to be removed by emergency personnel. The airplane's fuselage and wing sustained substantial damage during the accident. The weather reporting station at the accident airport reported the wind was from 290 degrees at 7 knots; this calculated to a tailwind of 5.4 knots.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Landing area overshoot during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Effect on equipment
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Decision related to condition
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › (general) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,234 hours in all; 1,216 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 2,067 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,004 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 30, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 5,100 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Teledyne Continental IO-470 (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Teledyne Continental IO-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HQZ Mesquite TX at 6:30 pm
- Destination: BVZ Batesville AR
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 07, 6,002 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 pm from BVX
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.