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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 24, 2008 · about 8:00 pm local time · cases in 2008
- Place
- Batesville, Arkansas · Batesville Regional Airport · cases near this 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 NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N8775R: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Beechcraft 95 Travel Air and Baron 55 1,243 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Beechcraft 6 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Teledyne Continental IO-470 4,724 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Teledyne Continental IO-470 4,724 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Batesville Regional · nearest airport
- Mesquite Metro Airport · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Arkansas 1,582 since 1982 · 177 in the last ten years
- Arkansas 3,495 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN09CA102.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.