Beech A36 accident near Arcola, Texas, May 30, 2005
On May 30, 2005 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Beech A36, registered N2015A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Arcola, Texas (Houston Southwest airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control and airspeed which resulted in an inadvertent stall while attempting a go-around. A contributing factor was the quartering tailwind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 30, 2005 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Arcola, Texas · Houston Southwest · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N2015A · no longer on the register · serial E-1306
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The single-engine airplane stalled and impacted the ground while attempting a go-around maneuver over runway 27, which is 5,000-foot long. The 890-hour private pilot reported that he was on final approach to the runway and started to flare for landing when the airplane began to drift to the left. He stated that he could not correct the drift with flight controls or by adding power. He then raised the landing gear, added full power, and started a go-around, but the airplane "would not climb." The pilot recalled that the airplane continued to drift to the left, the left wing dipped, and hit the ground. A pilot-rated witness reported that he observed the airplane on final in what appeared to be a normal approach to land. He then noticed that the airplane drifted from the centerline to the right, the left wing "dipped," and the "nose pitched up." He heard the engine accelerate and it appeared that the nose was "too high," and the airplane "stalled," The airplane then "winged-over" to the left of the runway, and impacted the ground. Evidence at the accident site, as reported by an FAA inspector, revealed that the airplane had initially impacted the dirt on the left side of the runway, and then slid onto the ramp area. At 1453, the automated weather station at AXH reported wind from 070 degrees at 13 knots, scattered clouds at 2,800 feet, broken clouds at 4,000 feet, and an overcast layer at 5,500 feet, temperature 28 degrees Celsius, dew point 22 degrees Celsius, and barometric pressure 29.75 inches of mercury. The remarks noted a wind shift at 1439.
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: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 890 hours in all; 175 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 821 as pilot in command; 69 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 1, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,745 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2005; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,612 lb
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AXH Arcola TX at 6:00 pm
- Destination: AXH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; scat at 2,800 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.75 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from HOU
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.