Beech F33A accident near Midland, Texas, June 3, 2009
On June 3, 2009 at about 9:35 pm local time, a Beech F33A, registered N33UB, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Midland, Texas (Midland Airpark airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper flare resulting in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the inadequate oversight of the flight by the instructor pilot.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 3, 2009 · about 9:35 pm local time
- Place
- Midland, Texas · Midland Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech F33A · all F33As on the register
- Registration
- N33UB · registry record · serial CE-1496
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After takeoff, the private pilot received instruction from a certified flight instructor to proceed to a nearby training area to practice flight maneuvers. Upon returning to the airport environment, the pilot entered the traffic pattern and conducted a simulated electrical failure and a no-flap landing. On final approach and over the runway, the "nose of the airplane pitched up" and the airplane began a rapid descent. The pilot was unable to arrest the descent with the application of full power and the airplane landed hard. An examination of the airplane revealed that the main landing gear was bent, the wings were wrinkled, and the right wing was bent upward at the flap attachment point. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident. An examination of the airplane's systems revealed no preaccident mechanical anomalies.
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
- Loss of control in flight during landing defining event
- Hard landing during landing
- Abnormal runway contact during landing
The NTSB's findings
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 250 hours in all; 27 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 186 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 9, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,812 hours in all; 181 in this make and model; 202 in the last 90 days; 47 in the last 30 days; 2,717 as pilot in command; 179 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 24, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,136 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, May 29, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor IO 520 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MDD Midland TX at 8:35 pm
- Destination: MDD Midland TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 3,977 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 9:25 pm from KMDD, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| 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.