Bearhawk Aircraft Model 5 accident near Livingston, Texas, June 25, 2023
On June 25, 2023 at about 7:10 pm local time, a 2020 Bearhawk Aircraft Model 5, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N619MS, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Livingston, Texas (Rcade Ranch 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 maintain directional control during the rollout, which resulted in a runway excursion, and a collision with a building. Contributing to the accident were the obstacles at the airstrip that prevented the pilot from performing a go-around.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 25, 2023 · about 7:10 pm local time
- Place
- Livingston, Texas · Rcade Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bearhawk Aircraft Model 5 NO SERIES, built 2020, amateur-built
- Registration
- N619MS · registry record · serial 001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he performed a landing to a remote private grass airstrip surrounded by about 80 ft tall trees, on all sides. At about 40 mph during the rollout on the dry grass, a “strong wind gust lifted the right wing.” The pilot applied full right aileron and full right rudder, but they had “no effect,” nor was the right brake “effective.” The airplane departed the runway, impacted a hangar, and came to rest upright. The pilot and passenger were able to egress from the airplane without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and the right wing. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or the engine that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot further reported that he did not initiate a go-around due to the airstrip being “narrow” and both the tall trees and the hangar “being in the way.”
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 on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Other weather encounter during landing (landing roll)
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (landing roll)
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing (landing roll)
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
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Ability to respond/compensate
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Airport structure › Ability to respond/compensate
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,300 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 185 in the last 90 days; 26 in the last 30 days; 10,000 as pilot in command; 2,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 11, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: condition inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming Engines AEIO580-B1A (piston); 25 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: F17 Center TX at 6:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 1,461 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 77°F (25°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from KLFK, 26 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KLFK 251853Z AUTO 21006KT 10SM SCT035 34/25 A2995 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT NW SLP138 T03440250
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on July 27, 2023. 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, 5 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.