Beech A36 accident near Eagle Pass, Texas, December 9, 2009
On December 9, 2009 at about 12:00 pm local time, a Beech A36, registered N1105N, was destroyed in an accident during approach (IFR final approach) near Eagle Pass, Texas (Maverick County Memorial Intnl airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's decision to continue the approach below minimums without visual references, and subsequent collision with the perimeter fence/terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 9, 2009 · about 12:00 pm local time
- Place
- Eagle Pass, Texas · Maverick County Memorial Intnl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N1105N · no longer on the register · serial E-912
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While on an instrument approach to the non-towered airport, the airplane collided with the airport's perimeter fence and terrain. The fence and perimeter road were parallel to, and about 750-feet east of the runway. The last radar plot was at an altitude of 1,200 feet MSL (Mean Sea Level), but slightly east of the runway, and approximately 435 feet from the accident site. About 30 minutes after the accident, deputies reported that the weather was "foggy". The instrument approach that the pilot was following was the RNAV (GPS) 31. The published minimums for this instrument approach are a 400-foot ceiling and one-mile visibility. The automated weather station about 33 miles northwest of the accident site reported at 0552, calm winds, temperature 41 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 41 degrees Fahrenheit, visibility less than 1/4 miles (and a Runway visual range ( RVR) of 600 feet variable to 1200 feet) in fog and an indefinite ceiling, altimeter pressure setting 29.85 inches of Mercury. An examination of the airplane failed to reveal any anomalies with the airframe, structure, or systems. The airplane's engine was removed from the airframe and placed in an engine test facility. An engine test run was conducted and the engine was able to produce rated horsepower, without hesitation or interruption. Under the conditions at the time, the pilot appeared to have mistaken the east perimeter road for the runway landing point.
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
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during approach (IFR final approach) defining event
- Fire/smoke (post-impact) during post (impact)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action selection › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Below approach minima › Not specified
Crew member
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 28,425 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,735 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 15, 2008
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor IO 520 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: KERV Kerrville Muni TX
- Destination: 5T9 Eagle Pass TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 31, 5,506 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 250° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 0.2 statute miles
- Sky: vv; not recorded
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 am from KDRT, 38 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.