Probable cause
The pilot's loss of control while landing with a tailwind due to his misinterpretation of the wind conditions.
NTSB analysis
The pilot was returning to his home airport and obtained the automated weather information from a nearby airport. The pilot misinterpreted the wind direction, which was from 010 degrees at 9 knots, as 110 degrees at 9 knots. As a result, the pilot landed long on runway 17 with a left quartering tailwind, bounced, and tried to turn onto a taxiway with too much speed. The pilot was unable to slow the airplane down and subsequently went off the end of the runway into a construction zone. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the firewall and left wing spar were substantially damaged. No mechanical deficiencies that would have precluded normal operation were noted with the airplane or its systems.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN11CA564 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Aug 11, 2011
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Rockwall, Texas
- Nearest airport
- Rockwall Municipal (F46)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Beech 35-C33
- N-number
- N12CA
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.