Beech A36TC accident near Snook, Texas, September 26, 2010
On September 26, 2010 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Beech A36TC, registered N468SG, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Snook, Texas (Private Airstrip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to recognize the change in wind velocity and his decision to make a downwind takeoff from the grass airstrip, which led to the airplane's degraded climb capability.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 26, 2010 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Snook, Texas · Private Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36TC · all A36TCs on the register
- Registration
- N468SG · registry record · serial EA-147
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, the wind had been from the north between 5 and 10 knots for most of the afternoon. He elected to make a downhill takeoff, and as the airplane neared the end of the runway it failed to gain sufficient airspeed to become airborne. The airplane continued off the runway and struck a pipe and then a fence, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and wing. Upon exiting the airplane, the pilot estimated that the wind had increased to 25 knots. The pilot stated there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane.
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
- Other weather encounter during takeoff
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Contributed to outcome
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Contributed to outcome
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Climb capability › Attain/maintain not possible
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Fence/fence post › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,000 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: December 1, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,764 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 10, 2010; 63 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,650 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-UB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Snook TX at 10:00 pm
- Destination: 3R9 Austin TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 2,500 ft by 25 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 14 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,500 ft; scat at 3,200 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from CLL, 15 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.