Beech C-24R accident near Bedford, Virginia, April 20, 1984
On April 20, 1984 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Beech C-24R, registered N1827Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bedford, Virginia (Smith Mountain Lake airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 20, 1984 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Bedford, Virginia · Smith Mountain Lake · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C-24R · all C-24Rs on the register
- Registration
- N1827Z · registry record · serial MC-762
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STRAIGHT-IN APPROACH WAS HIGH OVER THE TREES ON THE APPROACH END OF THE RWY. THE PLT WAITED UNTIL HE WAS 1/2 WAY DOWN THE 3000 FT RWY TO REDUCE ENG POWER TO IDLE. THE ACFT FLOATED BEFORE DROPPING TO THE RWY & BOUNCING BACK INTO THE AIR. POWER WAS APPLIED & AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO ABORT THE LANDING. HOWEVER, THE ACFT BOUNCED AGAIN & PLT CUT THE POWER WHEN HE DECIDED THAT THE ACFT WOULD NOT CLEAR THE TREES BEYOND THE END OF THE RWY. HE MANAGED TO STEER THE ACFT DOWN A FIRE BREAK BUT THE RIGHT WING HIT A TREE & THE NOSE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. THE ACFT TRAVELED 510 FT PAST THE END OF THE RWY.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 230 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 170 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,004 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 16, 1984; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming I0-360-A1B6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ROA Roanoke VA at 4:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 3,000 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from ROA, 23 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.