Beech B90 accident near Sturtevant, Wisconsin, October 22, 2012
On October 22, 2012 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Beech B90, registered N821DA, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Sturtevant, Wisconsin (Sylvania Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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 landing after touching down long and on a wet runway that reduced the airplane’s braking capability, which resulted in an overrun.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 22, 2012 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Sturtevant, Wisconsin · Sylvania Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech B90 · all B90s on the register
- Registration
- N821DA · no longer on the register · serial LJ-406
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the airplane floated during the landing flare, touched down long, bounced, and went off the end of the runway. The airplane struck two ditches before coming to rest on a road. The pilot stated that he should have recognized that braking action would be significantly reduced with the possibility of hydroplaning, that pulling the power levers to the stops before touchdown induced a lag in realization of reverse thrust, and that he should have executed a go-around when the airplane floated before landing. No mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane were reported. Heavy rain was reported about the time of the accident at a nearby airport.
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
- Runway excursion during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Braking capability › Capability exceeded
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action selection › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Wet › Effect on operation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,331 hours in all; 1,425 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 2,331 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 25, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,637 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, September 21, 2012
- Seats: 9
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney PT6 SER 578HP (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney PT6 SER 578HP (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: JXN Jackson MI at 11:00 pm
- Destination: C89 Sturtevant WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 08R, 2,272 ft by 38 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 100° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,100 ft; scat at 200 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from ENW, 6 miles away
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 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.