Beechcraft 58 N58SM

Summary

On 26 June 2017 at about 15:45 local time, a Beechcraft 58 registered N58SM was involved in an accident near Ingleside, Texas, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 June 2017 at 15:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Ingleside, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

McCampbell-Porter (TFP)

Coordinates

27.9136, -97.2119

Aircraft

Beechcraft 58

Registration

N58SM

Category

Airplane

Year built

1976

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Ingleside

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA17CA365

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot’s inability to avoid a collision with an unauthorized vehicle on the runway during the landing roll and the truck driver’s decision to cross the runway in front of the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the twin-engine airplane reported that, while on a visual approach for landing, he transmitted the appropriate radio calls and noted that all the airplane lights were illuminated. He added that the airplane touched down about 400 ft down the runway, at which time he noticed a truck approaching the runway from the south. The pilot observed the truck hesitate and then cross the runway towing a large trailer with a tractor loaded on the back. The pilot swerved the airplane to the left to avoid impacting the trailer, but the right wing impacted the trailer. The pilot reported that, after the collision, the truck driver apologized and stated that he thought he could "beat" the airplane across the runway. The truck driver reported that he looked both ways down the runway and did not observe any aircraft. He added that, while he was crossing, he saw an airplane. He accelerated the truck, but the airplane impacted the end of the trailer. The airport manager reported that the truck driver was not one of the airport's employees but had volunteered, without compensation, to cut and bale hay at the far corner of the airport. He added that all weather station or other repair technicians are escorted to their location by airport staff. He also reported that this was the first time that he had allowed the truck driver to cut hay on the airfield and that he had thoroughly briefed the driver to stay 50 ft away from the runway. The driver reported to the airport manager that he took the quicker and drier route instead of taking the longer and safer route because he was concerned with getting his truck and trailer stuck in an area that was known to be more saturated after the previous night's precipitation. After the collision, the airplane was destroyed by postimpact fire. In an effort to improve safety, the Precinct 4 Commissioner created a standard operating procedure that encompassed operating procedures, training curriculum, and a training manual that was derived from Advisory Circular 150/5210-20 Change 1.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.