Beech 76 accident near Eloy, Arizona, October 4, 2008
On October 4, 2008 at about 4:20 pm local time, a Beech 76, registered N6013X, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Eloy, Arizona (Private 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 maintain aircraft control during landing. Contributing to the accident were the crosswind wind conditions and terrain induced turbulence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 4, 2008 · about 4:20 pm local time
- Place
- Eloy, Arizona · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 76 · all 76s on the register
- Registration
- N6013X · no longer on the register · serial ME-113
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
As the pilot began flaring for landing at a private airstrip, the airplane encountered sudden turbulence and immediately rolled to the right. Despite the pilot’s attempt to counteract the roll and abort the landing, the right wing struck the surface of runway 24 and the airplane began to cartwheel. The airplane came to rest upright adjacent to the runway. The pilot noted that at the time of the accident the wind was from 210 degrees at 20 knots. Examination of the airplane by the pilot revealed that both wings were structurally damaged. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical anomalies with the engine, airframe, and flight control system at the time of the accident. The owner of the private airstrip stated that due to the location of a residential structure, it is common to experience turbulence near the approach end of runway 24 during high wind conditions.
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
- Turbulence encounter during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Loss of control in flight during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Lateral/bank control › Not attained/maintained
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Contributed to outcome
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Terrain induced turbulence › Contributed to outcome
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 792 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 59 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: June 18, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 3,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming O&VO-360 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MYF San Diego CA at 2:15 pm
- Destination: PVT Eloy AZ
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 24, 2,500 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 20 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.