Cessna T240 accident near Gonazales, Texas, May 6, 2020
On May 6, 2020 at about 9:50 pm local time, a 2013 Cessna T240, registered N25HE, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (aborted after touchdown) near Gonazales, Texas (Roger M Dreyer Memorial airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to retract the speedbrakes during a delayed go-around attempt, which resulted in a runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 6, 2020 · about 9:50 pm local time
- Place
- Gonazales, Texas · Roger M Dreyer Memorial · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T240, built 2013 · all T240s on the register
- Registration
- N25HE · registry record · serial T24002027
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported landing about one-third of the way down the runway. He did not believe the airplane would be able to stop on the remaining runway and decided to execute a go-around. The pilot added full engine power and left the flaps at the takeoff position. He did not recall retracting the speedbrakes and noted the airplane seemed to get "no lift." The airplane subsequently departed the runway pavement, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. Postaccident examination revealed the cockpit speedbrake switch was in the UP position. The airframe manufacturer noted the speedbrakes were actuated by the instrument panel-mounted switch and will not retract automatically due to a go-around condition, by pressing the go-around button, or with throttle lever advancement. The pilot commented the go-around could have been initiated earlier; if so, he may have had more time to fully prepare for a go-around. It is likely that the pilot did not retract the speedbrakes during the delayed go-around attempt, which resulted in a reduction of lift and a subsequent runway excursion.
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 (aborted after touchdown) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (aborted after touchdown)
- Runway excursion during landing (aborted after touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Forgotten action/omission › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Climb capability › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 696 hours in all; 130 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 544 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 5, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 590.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 26, 2019; 81 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motors TSIO-550-C21B (piston); 661 hours total
- Operator: Clearshot Air LLC
The flight
- Departed from: PGR Paragould AR at 6:45 pm
- Destination: T20 Gonazales TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 33, 3,200 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 9:35 pm from T20, 1 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
6 documents, released by the NTSB on June 22, 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Supplemental Pilot Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Accident Photos | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Conversation Summary -- Airplane Recovery Operator | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Conversation Summary -- Textron Aviation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Airplane Flight Manual -- Excerpts | PDF, 12 pages | 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.