Beech V35B accident near Houston, Texas, September 30, 2015
On September 30, 2015 at about 8:30 pm local time, a 1971 Beech V35B, registered N800JT, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff (rejected takeoff) near Houston, Texas (West Houston 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 properly secure the cabin door prior to takeoff, resulting in the door opening during takeoff, an aborted takeoff, runway overrun, and collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 30, 2015 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Houston, Texas · West Houston · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech V35B, built 1971 · all V35Bs on the register
- Registration
- N800JT · no longer on the register · serial D-9231
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot reported that this was his first solo flight in this airplane. During the takeoff roll, the pilot reported that the main cabin door "popped open" around 60 knots. Believing he had sufficient runway remaining to stop, he reduced power to idle and applied "maximum braking." Subsequently, the airplane overran the runway surface and came to rest in a creek about 72 feet past the end of the runway. The pilot reported that the braking action available was "insufficient" to stop within the remaining runway distance. During a postaccident examination, a Federal Aviation Administration Aviation Safety Inspector performed an inspection and functional check of the brakes and no anomalies were found. Additionally, the inspector found skid marks that were 501 feet in length before the end of the runway. The left and right wing both sustained substantial damage.
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
- Miscellaneous/other during takeoff
- Runway excursion during takeoff (rejected takeoff) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Doors › Passenger/crew doors › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Surface speed/braking › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 125 hours in all; 24 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 56 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 18, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,548.8 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 23, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-550 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IWS Houston TX at 8:30 pm
- Destination: DWH Houston TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 3,953 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 8:35 pm from KTME, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.