Beech A36 accident near Houston, Texas, August 26, 2014
On August 26, 2014 at about 11:45 pm local time, a 1991 Beech A36, registered N8176M, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Houston, Texas (West Houston airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during takeoff. Contributing to the severity of the accident was the pilot’s retraction of the landing gear before establishing a positive climb rate, which resulted in a gear-up landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 26, 2014 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Houston, Texas · West Houston · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 UNDESIGNAT, built 1991 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N8176M · no longer on the register · serial E-2602
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot said that, shortly after takeoff, the airplane seemed to have a "performance/power loss" and that it was not climbing. He lowered the airplane's nose in an attempt to gain airspeed and retracted the landing gear. The airplane immediately descended back onto the runway, slid on its belly, and then struck several approach lights. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector witnessed the accident and said that, after the airplane departed, it entered a nose-high, exaggerated cross-control condition with the airplane's tail only about 10 ft above the runway. The inspector momentarily lost sight of the airplane, but, when he saw it again, it had landed on its belly and was sliding off the runway. According to the Pilot's Operating Handbook, the landing gear should only be retracted on takeoff once a positive climb rate has been established. No preimpact mechanical deficiencies were identified that would have precluded normal operation.
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 takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Runway/taxi/approach light › Contributed to outcome
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 928 hours in all; 149 in this make and model; 46 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: May 22, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,107 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 30, 2014; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,650 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Teledyne IO-550-B (piston); 2,552 hours total
- Operator: N8176M LLC
The flight
- Departed from: IWS Houston TX at 11:00 pm
- Destination: MLU Monroe LA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 15, 3,953 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 9 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from IAH, 19 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.