N179DP

On October 10, 1996, at 1930 central daylight time, a Beech BE-55B, N179DP, registered to and operated by a private owner, sustained substantial damage during the landing near Bellville, Texas. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 cross country flight for which a flight plan was not filed. The personal flight originated at 1850 near Hearne, Texas.

During a telephone interview, conducted by the investigator-in-charge, and on the Pilot/Operator Report, the pilot reported the following information. A dark night approach was executed to runway 15 (2,500 feet in length with a 2-3 degree upslope) at the Grawunder Airport. Trees and transmission lines are at the approach path and the approach was made with the flaps retracted. The pilot stated that "during the landing flare/touchdown, the airplane stalled from about 10 to 12 feet above the ground, the left wing struck the ground, the left main gear collapsed and the airplane departed the runway." Both wings and propellers and the right engine mounts and firewall sustained structural damaged.