Beech V35 accident near Sulphur Springs, Texas, September 9, 1997
On September 9, 1997 at about 1:45 pm local time, a Beech V35, registered N9453S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sulphur Springs, Texas (Sulphur Springs Municipal airport). It was an instructional 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 delayed extension of the landing gear.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 9, 1997 · about 1:45 pm local time
- Place
- Sulphur Springs, Texas · Sulphur Springs Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech V35 · all V35s on the register
- Registration
- N9453S · no longer on the register · serial 8047
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was preparing for a commercial pilot check flight. He had failed 2 previous check flights. On the first failed check flight, the airplane was about 20 ft AGL before the pilot lowered the landing gear during a 'simulated' emergency. During the second check flight, short field landings were unsatisfactory. During the accident flight, the pilot was practicing short field landings for another check flight. During the flare/touchdown for one of these landings, the right main gear collapsed, and the inboard right main gear door scraped the runway. A mechanic reported that when he entered the cockpit (after the accident), the gear handle was in the 'down' position, and the landing gear motor circuit breaker was 'popped.' When the mechanic turned on the master switch and pushed the circuit breaker 'in,' the gear motor ran for 2 seconds, and the 'green' gear down indicator light illuminated. The gear system components were intact, and no discrepancies were found with the gear system or the electrical system. A witness observed that the right landing gear was not fully extended when the right wing struck the runway.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,900 hours in all; 1,700 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 1,852 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,617 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 2, 1997
- Maximum gross weight: 3,412 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PRX Paris TX at 1:00 pm
- Destination: SPR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 5,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.