Beech 58P accident near Abilene, Texas, May 20, 1985
On May 20, 1985 at about 2:37 pm local time, a Beech 58P, registered N95BH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Abilene, Texas (Abilene airport). It was a business 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 20, 1985 · about 2:37 pm local time
- Place
- Abilene, Texas · Abilene · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 58P · all 58Ps on the register
- Registration
- N95BH · registry record · serial TJ-29
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED HE MADE A NORMAL LANDING AND THE GEAR FOLDED DURING THE ROLLOUT. ANOTHER PLT WHO WAS WAITING AT THE END OF THE RWY FOR TAKEOFF OBSERVED THE LANDING AND STATED THE LANDING GEAR WAS EXTENDED TOO LATE AND WAS STILL IN TRANSIT (NOT FULLY DOWN) WHEN TOUCHDOWN OCCURRED.
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: 12,000 hours in all; 1,230 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 126 as pilot in command; 127 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,260 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SWW Sweetwater TX at 2:15 pm
- Destination: SAT San Antonio TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17R, 7,700 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:41 pm from ABI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number FTW85LA227.