Textron Aviation B300C accident near Fort Stockton, Texas, May 21, 2022
On May 21, 2022 at about 9:30 pm local time, a 2021 Textron Aviation B300C, registered N98FM, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Fort Stockton, Texas (Fort Stockton - Pecos County airport). It was a flight test 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 maintain directional control while landing with a single engine and maximum braking effort.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 21, 2022 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Stockton, Texas · Fort Stockton - Pecos County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Textron Aviation B300C, built 2021
- Registration
- N98FM · no longer on the register · serial FM-98
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilots were conducting single-engine landing performance tests on an unimproved, dirt runway at the time of the accident. The pilot reported the touchdown was smooth, after which the throttles were reduced, and maximum braking was applied. The airplane began to drift toward the right side of the runway. The pilot immediately applied left rudder and reduced braking. He subsequently “applied cautious left braking” to bring the airplane to the center of the runway without over correcting. These actions were not sufficient and the right wing impacted bushes and a small tree along the right side of the runway, although the main landing gear remained on the runway. After the accident, the pilot noted that the antiskid braking system may not have been operating properly. Recorded data revealed the left brake pressure increased after touchdown consistent with the pilot’s effort to maintain the center of the runway. About 8 seconds later, the right brake pressure increased consistent with a maximum bilateral braking effort, and the left and right brake pressures began to oscillate consistent with normal operation of the antiskid system. The investigation was unable to identify any anomalies with respect to the airplane. The pilot’s efforts to maintain directional control after landing touchdown were insufficient, which allowed the right wing to drift off the right side of the runway and impact the brush and small tree. The single-engine landing and maximum braking effort in accordance with the test plan likely hindered these efforts.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,802 hours in all; 130 in this make and model; 58 in the last 90 days; 42 in the last 30 days; 9,008 as pilot in command; 2,887 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 18, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,160 hours in all; 82 in this make and model; 41 in the last 90 days; 31 in the last 30 days; 2,900 as pilot in command; 1,260 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 9, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 27.8 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, October 6, 2021; 27.8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 16,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-67A (turboprop); 40 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-67A (turboprop); 40 hours total
- Operator: Textron Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: FST Fort Stockton TX at 8:16 pm
- Destination: FST Fort Stockton TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 4,961 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,300 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from KFST
Weather report (METAR): METAR KFST 212153Z AUTO 33012KT 10SM OVC023 28/02 A3001
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on March 20, 2024. 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 | Pilot Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Flight Data Recorder - Specialist's Factual Report | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Flight Data Recorder - Attachment 1 (Tabular Data of Accident Flight) | data file | Download |
| 5 | 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.
Other NTSB records under N98FM the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.