Amateur-built DHC6 accident near San Marcos, Texas, August 15, 2019
On August 15, 2019 at about 5:33 pm local time, a 1971 amateur-built DHC6, registered N322AV, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near San Marcos, Texas (San Marcos Regional Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's delayed go-around attempt and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action that resulted in a nose-down impact with terrain during an attempted go-around.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 15, 2019 · about 5:33 pm local time
- Place
- San Marcos, Texas · San Marcos Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DHC6 300, built 1971
- Registration
- N322AV · no longer on the register · serial 320
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airline transport pilot receiving company flight training was flying an approach; the airplane was too high and entered an increasing descent rate. The flight instructor told the pilot to go around, about the same time the pilot elected to go around. However, the pilot’s corrective control and power inputs did not arrest the descent rate, and the airplane impacted the ground, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The operator reported there were no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal airplane 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 approach (VFR go-around) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Climb rate › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,833 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 1,513 as pilot in command; 652 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 27, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,775 hours in all; 162 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 1,364 as pilot in command; 460 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 29, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 32,258.8 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, August 11, 2019
- Maximum gross weight: 7,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-27 (turboprop); 13,422 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-27 (turboprop); 17,840 hours total
- Operator: Berry Aviation, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: T82 Fredericksburg TX at 4:25 pm
- Destination: HYI San Marcos TX
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 13, 5,601 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 77°F (25°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 5:47 pm from HYI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on October 9, 2020. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Crew Statements | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Surveillance Video | AVI file | Download |
| 4 | Wreckage Photo | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.