Beech A23-24 accident near Lake City, South Carolina, July 18, 1986
On July 18, 1986 at about 5:45 pm local time, a Beech A23-24, registered N6116N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lake City, South Carolina (Cockfield). It was a personal 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
- July 18, 1986 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Lake City, South Carolina · Cockfield · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A23-24 · all A23-24s on the register
- Registration
- N6116N · registry record · serial MA-340
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING LANDING ROLL THE PILOT NOTICED THAT THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO VEER OFF THE RUNWAY. HE INITIATED A GO-AROUND IN ORDER TO ASSESS THE PROBLEM. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE NOSE WHEEL HAD MALFUNCTIONED. DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE AIRCRAFT VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. POST CRASH EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THAT A NOSE WHEEL CABLE WAS BROKEN, ALLOWING THE NOSE WHEEL TO TURN TO ONE SIDE DURING TOUCHDOWN.
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: 311 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 277 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,700 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 16, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming I0360A1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Lake City SC at 4:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 3,700 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 100°F (38°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.