Beech B200 accident near Odessa, Texas, March 29, 2022
On March 29, 2022 at about 11:45 pm local time, a 1982 Beech B200, registered N469SL, was involved in an accident during approach near Odessa, Texas (Odessa Airport-Schlemeyer Fiel). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 5 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The airplane’s encounter with severe clear air turbulence that was not forecasted, which resulted in a serious injury to an unrestrained passenger.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 29, 2022 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Odessa, Texas · Odessa Airport-Schlemeyer Fiel · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 5 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech B200 None, built 1982 · all B200s on the register
- Registration
- N469SL · registry record · serial BB-1036
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that while descending at about 160 kts during an instrument approach in visual meteorological conditions with the autopilot engaged, and passing through 5,000 ft msl, the airplane encountered “a sudden pocket” of severe clear air turbulence for one second, resulting in the loss of about 300 ft of altitude. A passenger in the cabin, who was in the process of restraining himself when the turbulence encounter occurred, hit his head on the cabin ceiling and sustained a serious injury. The autopilot was turned off, the pilot continued with the approach, and the airplane landed at the destination airport without further incident. The airplane did not sustain any damage from the turbulence encounter. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that at the time of the accident, an AIRMET for moderate turbulence below 12,000 ft msl and high surface winds was active for the area. The passengers were verbally instructed by the pilot to make sure their restraint systems were fastened. The pilot activated the cabin seatbelt sign as an aural and visual warning as reinforcement.
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
- Clear air turbulence encounter during approach defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Clear air turbulence › Effect on personnel
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Equipment/furnishings › Passenger compartment equip › Not used/operated
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Clear air turbulence › Contributed to outcome
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Clear air turbulence › Compliance w/ procedure
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Clear air turbulence › Awareness of condition
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Passenger
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,000 hours in all; 1,300 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 3,800 as pilot in command; 2,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 20, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,044 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, September 14, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 12,500 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-52 (turboprop); 2,383 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-52 (turboprop); 2,383 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TPL Temple TX at 10:41 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 29, 6,200 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 26 knots, gusting 33
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.47 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from KODO, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KODO 292353Z AUTO 30026G33KT 6SM HZ CLR 29/M08 A2947 RMK AO2 PK WND 26047/2336 SLP932 60000 T02891083 10328 20278 55018 PWINO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 4 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on May 25, 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Photographs | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Additional Documents | PDF, 13 pages | View Download |
| 4 | N469SL Beech B200 - Passenger Briefing Cards | PDF, 6 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.