Stinson VULTEE V-77 accident near Slaton, Texas, June 9, 2024
On June 9, 2024 at about 9:35 pm local time, a 1944 Stinson VULTEE V-77, registered N88026, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Slaton, Texas (City Of Slaton/Larry T Neal Me airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control after landing in gusting wind conditions which resulted in a runway excursion and the airplane nosing over. Contributing was the pilot’s decision to conduct the flight in very strong, gusting wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 9, 2024 · about 9:35 pm local time
- Place
- Slaton, Texas · City Of Slaton/Larry T Neal Me · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson VULTEE V-77, built 1944 · all VULTEE V-77s on the register
- Registration
- N88026 · registry record · serial 77-411
- 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 during the landing roll and as he was preparing to turn onto a taxiway, they encountered a gust of wind. The airplane departed the left side of the runway and nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage, left and right wings, and the vertical stabilizer and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the airplane had landed on runway 17 with recorded wind of 030o at 21 knots, gusting to 44 knots.
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 (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
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Weather planning › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 31,103 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 101 in the last 30 days; 30,424 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 20, 2023
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 3, 2023; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,680 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming R-680-13 (piston); 1,856 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KLBB Lubbock TX at 9:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18/3, 4,244 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 21 knots, gusting 44
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds; a few clouds
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 4:34 pm from KLBB, 14 miles away
Weather report (METAR): SPECI KLBB 092134Z 03021G44KT 6SM TS BLDU BKN070CB BKN095 BKN140 25/16 A2995 RMK AO2 PK WND 03044/2128 WSHFT 2110 LTG DSNT NE TSB14 OCNL LTGICCG NW-NE TS NW-NE MOV W T02500156 $=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN24LA214.