Waco SRE accident near Vidalia, Louisiana, February 26, 2011
On February 26, 2011 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Waco SRE, registered NC58785, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Vidalia, Louisiana (Concordia Parish 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 maintain directional control during landing in gusty wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 26, 2011 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Vidalia, Louisiana · Concordia Parish · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Waco SRE · all SREs on the register
- Registration
- NC58785 · no longer on the register · serial 5144
- 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, while inbound to the destination airport, he was advised that the wind was from the south at 7 knots. While landing, the touchdown was normal, but during the rollout, the airplane veered sideways, exited the runway and nosed over. The airport manager, who witnessed the accident, said that he saw the airplane on final approach and the pilot put the airplane in a slip condition to compensate for the wind which was blowing from about 165 degrees at approximately 10 knots with some gusts. The left gear collapsed and the airplane skidded down the runway, then veered off the right side into the grass and nosed over. The propeller left a single cut mark on the edge of the runway and made several cut marks in the ground approximately 1 foot apart. The dragging wheel dug into the ground and the airplane overturned on its back.
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 on ground during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing
The NTSB's findings
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 28,514 hours in all; 700 in this make and model
- Last flight review: February 11, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,527 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 2, 2010
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-985 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sydal Sre, LLC
The flight
- Departed from: 58LA Jackson LA at 9:00 pm
- Destination: 0R4 Vidalia LA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 3,700 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 9:35 pm from HEZ
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.