Beech C-23 accident near Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, June 18, 1986
On June 18, 1986 at about 4:50 pm local time, a Beech C-23, registered N6046Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina (Fuquay Angier airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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
- June 18, 1986 · about 4:50 pm local time
- Place
- Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina · Fuquay Angier · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C-23 · all C-23s on the register
- Registration
- N6046Z · registry record · serial M2173
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLT WAS A PRACTICAL FLT TEST FOR A COMMERCIAL PLT CERTIFICATE. AT APRX 3,000 FT THE PLT EXAMINER INITIATED A SIMULATED FORCED LANDING. THE APPLICANT SPIRALED TO A MODIFIED DOWNWIND AND BASE LEG. THE APPLICANT SAID EVERYTHING WAS FINE UNTIL ON FINAL APCH WHERE HE NOTED A HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED SINK RATE. PWR WAS APPLIED, HOWEVER, THE ACFT STRUCK THE GROUND SHORT OF THE GRASS RWY WHERE IT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE APPLICANT STATED THAT BOTH HE AND THE EXAMINER MISJUDGED THE APCH.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 529 hours in all; 416 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 448 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,736 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RDU Raleigh NC at 4:01 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 2,780 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from RDU, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.