Beech V35B accident near Norwich, New York, May 21, 2012
On May 21, 2012 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Beech V35B, registered N6658K, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Norwich, New York (Lt Warren Eaton 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 airplane control while landing in a crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 21, 2012 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Norwich, New York · Lt Warren Eaton Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech V35B · all V35Bs on the register
- Registration
- N6658K · registry record · serial D-10278
- 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, while landing in a left crosswind, the right main landing gear touched down first, followed by the left main landing gear, and the airplane veered left. The pilot performed a go-around and made a second landing without further incident. However, subsequent examination of the airplane revealed that the left wing had been substantially damaged due to contact with the runway during the first attempted landing. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Review of weather data revealed that the wind was from about 50 degrees left of the runway heading at 12 knots at the time of the landing.
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 (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Dragged wing/rotor/float/other during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Response/compensation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Lateral/bank control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,286 hours in all; 1,067 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 1,138 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 5, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,236 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 8, 2012; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor IO 550 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SYR Syracuse NY at 4:15 pm
- Destination: OIC Norwich NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 4,724 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from BGM, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on August 15, 2012. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Weather Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photo: Damage to Left Wing (Photo Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.