Beech 77 accident near Gainesville, Florida, November 1, 2009
On November 1, 2009 at about 8:38 pm local time, a Beech 77, registered N6715V, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Gainesville, Florida (Gainesville Regional 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 aircraft control during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 1, 2009 · about 8:38 pm local time
- Place
- Gainesville, Florida · Gainesville Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 77 · all 77s on the register
- Registration
- N6715V · registry record · serial WA-70
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot had recently purchased the airplane and was enroute to his home airport with another pilot when the accident occurred. While on final approach to runway 25 the airplane was "exactly on course;" however, during the flare the airplane veered to the left and the right wing lifted. The pilot applied full throttle and initiated a go-around; however, the airplane was "already in a stall." The airplane then impacted a sign, substantially damaging the left wing, before it came to rest in the grass. The pilot was able to taxi the airplane to the ramp when he observed 2 turboprop aircraft taxiing to the ramp in front of him. The pilot believed he experienced propwash from the other aircraft while he was landing. He additionally reported no preimpact mechanical anomalies with the airplane. The winds were recorded as variable at 4 knots at the time of the accident.
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 in flight during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Sign/marker › Ability to respond/compensate
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 70 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 70 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 31, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,044 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 1,675 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-235 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VLD Valdosta GA at 7:00 pm
- Destination: GNV Gainesville FL
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 25, 4,158 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from GNV
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N6715V the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.