Beech 23 accident near Augusta, Georgia, March 2, 1987
On March 2, 1987 at about 2:04 am local time, a Beech 23, registered N2355Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Augusta, Georgia (Bush Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 2, 1987 · about 2:04 am local time
- Place
- Augusta, Georgia · Bush Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 23 · all 23s on the register
- Registration
- N2355Z · registry record · serial M 34
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS FLOWN FROM A PVT STRIP TO A NRBY ARPT AT STATESBORO, GA FOR REFUELING. AFTER THE ACFT WAS REFUELED, THE ENGLOST PWR AS THE STUDENT PLT WAS TAXIING TO TAKEOFF. WATER WAS FND IN THE SUMPS, & RPRTDLY, 4 TO 6 SAMPLES WERE REQUIRED TO DRAIN WATER FROM EACH TANK. AFTER THE ENG WAS STARTED, THE ACFT WAS RPRDLY FLOWN TO SWAINSBORO, GA, THEN THE PLT TOOKOFF ON A FLT TO WAYNESBORO, GA WITH A PAX ABOARD. HE RPRTDLY MISSED HIS DESTN ARPT & STARTED AN APCH TO LAND AT BUSH FIELD AT AUGUSTA, GA. WHILE ON THE APCH, THE ENG LOST PWR & THE STUDENT PLT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART IT. DURING AN EMERG LANDING, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES & BOTH WINGS WERE EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED. A POST-CRASH EXAM REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL FAILURE. FLUID THAT WAS DRAINED FROM THE CARBURETOR & GASCOLATOR WAS MOSTLY WATER. THE STUDENT PLT NOTED THAT THE ACFT'S FUEL TANKS HAD A TENDENCY TO ACCUMULATE WATER WHEN THE ACFT WAS PARKED FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME; HOWEVER, THE SOURCE OF THE WATER WAS NOT VERIFIED. A CHECK OF THE STUDENT PLT'S BLOOD SHOWED AN ALCOHOL LVL OF 0.262%.
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
What happened, in order
- LOSS OF ENGINE POWER(TOTAL) - NONMECHANICAL during landing
- FORCED LANDING during descent - emergency
- IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH OBJECT during landing - flare/touchdown
Pilot
- Ratings: none, none, none, none
- Flight time: 150 hours in all
- Medical certificate: class 3
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, November 1, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operating certificate: in the vicinity
The flight
- Departed from: TBR Swainsboro GA
- Destination: 2J7 Waynesboro GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 8,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 290° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scattered at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°C, dew point 41°C
- Altimeter: 29 inHg
- Observation at 2:13 am from AGS, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ATL87LA078.