Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions and failure to maintain runway alignment. Contributing factors were the gusty crosswind weather conditions and the rocky terrain adjacent to the runway.
NTSB analysis
The pilot said he had just purchased the airplane in California and was returning to his home in Texas. He was in the landing flare when a gust of wind blew the airplane off the side of the runway. He attempted to go around, but the landing gear impacted some rocks on the left side of the runway. The outboard 10 feet of the right wing was wrinkled and compressed aft, and the bottom of the empennage was badly wrinkled and compromised. The airplane came to rest approximately 185 feet from the runway. The reported winds at Prescott, Arizona, located 37 nautical miles east of the accident airport, were from 350 degrees at 11 knots gusting to 17 knots.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for LAX08CA147 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- May 17, 2008
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Bagdad, Arizona
- Nearest airport
- Bagdad Airport (E51)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Beech B-23
- N-number
- N4026T
- 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.