Beech B-55 accident near Brookhaven, Mississippi, February 28, 2008
On February 28, 2008 at about 7:10 pm local time, a Beech B-55, registered N4265S, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Brookhaven, Mississippi (Brookhaven-Lincoln County 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 improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing during the first attempt, and subsequent collapse of the nose landing gear during the second landing attempt. Contributing to the accident was the wind gusts.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 28, 2008 · about 7:10 pm local time
- Place
- Brookhaven, Mississippi · Brookhaven-Lincoln County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech B-55 · all B-55s on the register
- Registration
- N4265S · no longer on the register · serial TC-2016
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the Beech 55 reported that he encountered light wind gusts during an approach to runway 22. He completed his pre-landing checklist, deployed full flaps, extended the landing gear, and noted that all three landing gear indicator lights were green. Just prior to touchdown the airplane encountered a wind gust that caused it to bank 60 degrees. The pilot leveled the airplane just prior to landing on all three wheels, but the airplane did not "stick." He applied full power and aborted the landing. During the second approach, the pilot deployed half flaps and extended the landing gear. He noted that the gusts had subsided and that the approach was more stable. Prior to landing, he confirmed that all three landing gear indicator lights were green. The pilot landed the airplane, but as the nose wheel contacted the runway, the front of the airplane began to shake violently, and the nose gear collapsed. A witness observed both landings, and stated that on the first attempt the airplane landed "hard." The airplane sustained substantial damage including wrinkles in the fuselage skin aft of the main cabin door. The reported wind, at an airport about 25 miles south of the accident site, about the time of the accident, was from 190 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 17 knots.
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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Landing gear collapse during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Not specified
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,395 hours in all; 1,897 in this make and model
- Last flight review: November 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,014 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 2007; 320 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,100 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental IO-470L (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental IO470L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 66Y Diamondhead MS at 6:20 pm
- Destination: 1R7 Brookhaven MS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 5,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 10 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.27 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from MCB, 26 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.