No fatalities

Pilot Overruns Wet Runway After Landing Long, Hits Fence

Malvern, AR, United States

On March 21, 2012, a BEECH V35B operated by Cole Gaither was involved in an aviation accident near Malvern, AR. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot did not fly a stabilized approach and elected not to perform a go-around, which resulted in a runway excursion. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

The pilot diverted due to low ceilings, encountered gusty wind and rain, landed long on a wet runway, hydroplaned, and overran the runway at low speed. The right wing struck a fence, collapsing the nose gear and damaging the empennage.

Incident Overview

A pilot reported diverting to an alternate airport due to low ceilings. During the turn from base leg to final, a gust of wind and rain pushed the airplane to the right of the runway centerline. The aircraft floated down the runway and landed long, but the pilot chose not to execute a go-around.

Landing and Runway Overrun

According to the pilot, the wet runway caused the tires to hydroplane, increasing the stopping distance. The airplane was traveling at approximately 5 to 10 miles per hour when it overran the end of the runway. Attempting to veer left, the pilot lost directional control, and the right wing struck a fence, causing the nose gear to collapse.

Aircraft Damage

Post-incident examination revealed substantial damage to a longeron in the empennage. The pilot stated that no mechanical malfunction or failure of the airplane occurred prior to the accident.

Contributing factors

Causes

Descent/approach/glide path — Not attained/maintainedPilot

Other contributing factors

Surface speed/braking — Not attained/maintainedContributed to outcome