Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

February 20, 2006 · Beech V35 · N510LM

San Antonio, TX

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
February 20, 2006
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
San Antonio, TX
Aircraft
Beech V35
Tail Number
N510LM
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
DFW06LA073

The 3,000-hour commercial pilot was cleared by Air Traffic Control to the VOR and hold as published in the Instrument Approach Procedures. During the outbound leg of the published hold, he was cleared to descend to 2,000 feet, and for the approach to runway 32. During the approach, the pilot extended the landing gear and slowed the airplane to 90-knots. The pilot reported that he expected a circling approach to runway 14, since he heard the control tower clear another airplane for departure on runway 14. After the airplane descended below the clouds, the pilot had the airport in sight and proceeded towards the runway. The pilot stated that "all of a sudden, in seconds, the right wing went up, and the left wing went down, and I applied power but could not climb." The airplane subsequently impacted an open field just south of the airport. The pilot elected to reduce power and stay on the ground instead of attempting to regain altitude due to the risk of colliding with trees on the approach to the runway. The pilot further reported he thought he encountered a downdraft. An inspection on the engine was conducted and no abnormalities were found that would have prevented normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's loss of control while on approach to the runway. Contributing factors were the downdraft and the lack of suitable terrain for the off-airport landing.

Full Narrative

On February 20, 2006, about 1435, central standard time, a single-engine Beech V35 airplane, N510LM, was substantially damaged following an inflight encounter with weather and a subsequent loss of control during an instrument approach to the Stinson Municipal Airport (SSF), near San Antonio Texas. The commercial pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was owned and operated by the operator. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The cross-country flight originated from El Paso International Airport (ELP), near El Paso, Texas, en route to SSF, approximately 1200. The 3,000-hour commercial pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1), that as he was approaching SSF, Air Traffic Control cleared him to the "VOR and hold as published" in the Instrument Approach Procedures for the VOR or GPS Runway 32 Approach. During the outbound leg of the published hold, he was cleared to descend to 2,000 feet, and for the approach to runway 32. During the approach, the pilot extended the landing gear and slowed the airplane to 90-knots. The pilot reported that he expected a circling approach to runway 14, since he heard the control tower clear another airplane for departure on runway 14. The pilot also reported that the tower reported the the winds as calm; however, he was required to "crab 25-30 degrees" in order to stay on course. After the airplane descended below the clouds, the pilot reported that he had the airport in sight and proceeded towards the runway. The pilot then stated that "all of a sudden, in seconds, the right wing went up, and the left wing went down, and I applied power but could not climb." The airplane, with the landing gear extended, subsequently impacted the ground in an open field just south of the airport. The pilot elected to reduce power and stay on the ground, instead of attempting to regain altitude due to the risk of flying into trees on the approach to the runway. During the landing roll, the airplane impacted trees and came to rest just off the edge of the field. In a subsequent telephone interview conducted by the NTSB investigator in charge (IIC), the pilot reported he thought he had hit a downdraft, and reported that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who responded to the accident site, reported the aircraft came to rest on its fuselage in an upright position with the nose of the aircraft pointing down. Additionally, he noted that the right wing was heavily damaged. An inspection on the engine was conducted on March 2, 2006, under the supervision of the NTSB IIC. No abnormalities were found that would have prevented normal operation. At 1453, the automated weather observing system at SSF, reported wind from 040 degrees at 3 knots, 4 statute miles visibility, mist, overcast clouds at 500 feet, temperature 46 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 43 degrees Fahrenheit, and a altimeter setting of 30.10 inches of Mercury.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:35 CST
Nearest Airport2nm
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Flight Plan ActivatedYes
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBeech V35
Tail NumberN510LM
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-520 · Reciprocating · 285
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 64 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDaylight
Wind40° @ 3 kt
Visibility4 sm
CeilingOvercast 500 ft
Temperature / Dew Point46 / 43 C
Altimeter30.10 inHg
Observation Time20:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data