Beech 58P accident near Hereford, Texas, January 16, 2008
On January 16, 2008 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Beech 58P, registered N42SM, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Hereford, Texas (Ford Municipal Airport). It was a business 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 loss of control on landing. A factor was a gusting crosswind component.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 16, 2008 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Hereford, Texas · Ford Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 58P · all 58Ps on the register
- Registration
- N42SM · registry record · serial TJ-109
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported on the NTSB form 6120.1, Pilot/Operator Accident/Incident Report that he was on a visual approach to runway 3 with winds reported to be 360 degrees at 25 knots gusting to 32 knots. The pilot stated that the approach seemed normal using 15 degrees of flaps and a little more power due to the winds. When the pilot began his flare a "tremendous gust of wind caught under the left wing" causing the right wing to drag the pavement. This produced a slight nose down attitude and a right turn. The airplane departed the runway and the pilot was able to regain control. The airplane right wing, right engine prop and landing gear main struts were damaged. The pilot and his passenger were not injured.
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)
The NTSB's findings
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Not specified
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Not specified
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,392 hours in all; 530 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 1,312 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,843 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Teledyne Continental TSO-520L (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Teledyne Continental TSO-520L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TXK Texarkana AR at 2:30 pm
- Destination: HRX Hereford TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 03, 5,387 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 21 knots, gusting 31
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,100 ft; ovct at 2,100 ft
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 4:45 pm from HRX
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.