Beech A36TC accident near Stratford, Texas, October 19, 1997
On October 19, 1997 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Beech A36TC, registered N42AM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Stratford, Texas (Stratford Field). 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 the proper glidepath with the airplane resulting in the airplane not touching down at the proper touchdown point on the runway. A factor was the unfavorable winds.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 19, 1997 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Stratford, Texas · Stratford Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36TC · all A36TCs on the register
- Registration
- N42AM · registry record · serial EA-29
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Due to several hangars located near the approach end of the runway 4, the pilot made a high approach. The airplane touched down about 1/3 of the way down the 3,030-ft runway, and when the pilot realized that he was not going to get the airplane stopped on the runway, he veered the airplane to the right in an attempt to avoid a ditch located near the end of runway. The airplane struck the ditch, collapsing the nose gear and damaging the left wing's rear spar. The winds were from the north at 20 knots gusting to 25 knots during the approach to the runway; however, as the airplane touched down the winds changed to the north northwest.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,442 hours in all; 3,400 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 7,442 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,423 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 8, 1997; 47 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,650 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-UB1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MKC Kansas City MO at 6:00 pm
- Destination: Q70
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 4, 3,030 ft by 32 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.