Beech 65-B80 accident near Midland, Texas, March 10, 2000
On March 10, 2000 at about 11:05 pm local time, a Beech 65-B80, registered N8071R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Midland, Texas (Midland International airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The separation of the right main landing gear tire tread which resulted in damage to the right main landing gear mounting structure.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 10, 2000 · about 11:05 pm local time
- Place
- Midland, Texas · Midland International
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 65-B80 · all 65-B80s on the register
- Registration
- N8071R · no longer on the register · serial LD-420
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During takeoff roll, at 80 knots, the pilot felt some vibration and the airplane started to veer right. The pilot straightened the airplane and elected to continue with the takeoff since it was questionable whether he could stop the airplane 'without crashing at the departure end of the runway.' The pilot flew by the control tower, and the tower operator advised the pilot that the right main landing gear appeared to be 'abnormal.' The pilot was cleared to land, and as the airplane touched down, the right main landing gear collapsed. An examination of the aircraft revealed that the tread on the right main landing gear tire had separated, and the right main landing gear mounting structure was 'torn loose' from the wing.
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: 18,000 hours in all; 8,000 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 16,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,384 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 10, 1999; 53 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,800 lb
- Seats: 0
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IGSO-540-A1D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Western Air Express, INC
The flight
- Departed from: MAF at 11:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 8,302 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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.