FTW02LA123

Factual narrative

On April 16, 2002, at 1840 central daylight time, a Halfacre Velocity single-engine homebuilt airplane, N355BH, was substantially damaged during a hard landing near Cleveland, Texas. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight, and a flight plan was not filed. The local flight departed the Cleveland Municipal Airport, Cleveland, Texas, approximately 1750. According to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the pilot reported that as he was beginning his flare prior to touchdown, he encountered a "rotor" (a strong gust of wind) which "caused a high descent rate." The airplane contacted the ground short of the runway, and the left main gear separated. The airplane continued down the runway on the nose gear, right main gear, and left wingtip. Subsequently, the airplane departed the left side of the runway, where the nose gear and right main landing gear separated. According to the FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, the airplane impacted terrain 48 feet short of runway 16. It then slid approximately 234 feet down the runway, coming to rest upright 30 feet off the left side of the runway. At 1853, the Conroe, Texas, Automated Weather Observation Service (AWOS), located 22 miles west of the accident site, reported the wind from 150 degrees at 11 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, sky clear, temperature 26 degrees C, dew point 21 degrees C, and an altimeter of 30.00 inches of mercury. As the pilot was beginning his flare prior to touchdown, he encountered a strong gust of wind which resulted in a high rate of descent. The airplane impacted the ground 48 feet short of the runway, where the left main landing gear separated. Subsequently, the airplane slid 234 feet down the runway on its nose gear, right main landing gear, and left wingtip. The aircraft came to rest 30 feet off the left side of the runway in an upright position. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12