Beech 35 accident near Bridgeport, Texas, March 26, 2021
On March 26, 2021 at about 8:27 pm local time, a 1947 Beech 35, registered N3953N, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Bridgeport, Texas (Bridgeport Muni airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilots’ failure to maintain adequate airspeed during a simulated power-off approach in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack, an aerodynamic stall, and loss of control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 26, 2021 · about 8:27 pm local time
- Place
- Bridgeport, Texas · Bridgeport Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 35, built 1947 · all 35s on the register
- Registration
- N3953N · no longer on the register · serial D-1213
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and flight instructor were conducting an approach and landing following a simulated loss of engine power in gusting wind conditions. One witness stated that the airplane was descending from the north and appeared to be slow. It pulled up right before it hit trees, then “flipped” and hit the ground upright. Another witness saw the airplane at low altitude near the airport. He stated that the nose was up in the air and the tail barely cleared the power lines along the road. After crossing the road, the airplane pitched up and banked to the right. The right wing hit trees and the airplane descended out of sight. A review of weather information revealed gusting wind conditions and thermal activity. An encounter with a thermal, with associated turbulence or a downdraft, was possible given the synoptic conditions and observations. The recorded engine data revealed that the engine was operating at a low power setting, similar to idle, and no anomalies were noted. The airplane wreckage was sold for salvage and scrap before examination, and flight control continuity could not be confirmed. Based on the pilot and witness statements, it is likely that, during the simulated loss of engine power, the pilots failed to maintain adequate airspeed during the landing approach in gusting wind conditions and exceeded the airplane’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of control.
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
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Instructor/check pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › (general) › Contributed to outcome
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Capability exceeded
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,340 hours in all
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,614 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,051.3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motors E-185-11 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18/3, 5,005 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 12 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 3:15 pm from KXBP
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
13 documents, released by the NTSB on July 27, 2022. 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 | Correspondence - Statements | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Witness Statements | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Flight Track (Plots) | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 5 | ADS-B Data | spreadsheet | Download |
| 6 | Photos | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Fuel Inspection Form | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | Electronic Recorder Devices - Specialist's Factual Report | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 9 | Attachment 1 to Electronic Recorder Devices - Specialist's Factual Report -- Tabular Data | data file | Download |
| 10 | Maintenance Records | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 11 | Meteorology Factual Report | PDF, 16 pages | View Download |
| 12 | Meteorology Attachment 1 - Thermal Bubble | video | View Download |
| 13 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | 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.