Textron B300C N98FM

Summary

On 21 May 2022 at about 21:30 local time, a Textron B300C registered N98FM, operated by Textron Aviation, was involved in an accident near Fort Stockton, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 May 2022 at 21:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Fort Stockton, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Fort Stockton - Pecos County (FST)

Coordinates

30.9153, -102.9128

Aircraft

Textron B300C

Registration

N98FM

Category

Airplane

Year built

2021

Engines

2

Operator

Textron Aviation

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Flight Test

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fort Stockton → Fort Stockton

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN22LA209

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing with a single engine and maximum braking effort.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilots were conducting single-engine landing performance tests on an unimproved, dirt runway at the time of the accident. The pilot reported the touchdown was smooth, after which the throttles were reduced, and maximum braking was applied. The airplane began to drift toward the right side of the runway. The pilot immediately applied left rudder and reduced braking. He subsequently “applied cautious left braking” to bring the airplane to the center of the runway without over correcting. These actions were not sufficient and the right wing impacted bushes and a small tree along the right side of the runway, although the main landing gear remained on the runway. After the accident, the pilot noted that the antiskid braking system may not have been operating properly. Recorded data revealed the left brake pressure increased after touchdown consistent with the pilot’s effort to maintain the center of the runway. About 8 seconds later, the right brake pressure increased consistent with a maximum bilateral braking effort, and the left and right brake pressures began to oscillate consistent with normal operation of the antiskid system. The investigation was unable to identify any anomalies with respect to the airplane. The pilot’s efforts to maintain directional control after landing touchdown were insufficient, which allowed the right wing to drift off the right side of the runway and impact the brush and small tree. The single-engine landing and maximum braking effort in accordance with the test plan likely hindered these efforts.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.