Bell P39 accident near Fredericksburg, Texas, April 18, 2005
On April 18, 2005 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Bell P39, registered N6968, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fredericksburg, Texas (Gillespie County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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 landing roll. A contributing factor was the reported partial failure of the left wheel brake.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 18, 2005 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Fredericksburg, Texas · Gillespie County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell P39 · all P39s on the register
- Registration
- N6968 · registry record · serial 219597
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The 5,753-hour commercial pilot lost directional control during the landing roll, and the vintage airplane drifted off of the runway and struck a fence 200-feet beyond the departure end of the runway. During the straight-in approach to the 5,002-feet long by 75- feet wide runway, the pilot noticed that the airplane's airspeed was above the flap extension speed of 140 mph, and "elected to continue with a no-flap landing." A witness at the airport ramp reported that the airplane "appeared to be at an excessive rate of speed" on final approach. He further reported that the observed the nose wheel touched the runway prior to the main wheels. The pilot added that as he applied brakes after landing, the left brake "was not responding normally." Examination of the airplane brake system by the operator did not reveal any anomalies.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,753 hours in all; 121 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 5,640 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,096.7 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, May 1, 2004; 18.7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,100 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Allison V1710-63 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MAF Midland TX at 7:23 pm
- Destination: T82 Fredericksburg TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 5,005 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 8:25 pm from T82
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.