Beech C23 accident near Branchville, Alabama, April 12, 1987
On April 12, 1987 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Beech C23, registered N6021X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Branchville, Alabama (Pickett'S Flyin Arpt airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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 12, 1987 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Branchville, Alabama · Pickett'S Flyin Arpt · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C23 · all C23s on the register
- Registration
- N6021X · no longer on the register · serial M-2155
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS LDG AT THE PRIVATE AIRSTRIP TO THE NORTH WITH A TAILWIND, BECAUSE TREES LOCATED ON THE NORTH END OF THE RWY PRECLUDED LDG TO THE SOUTH INTO THE WIND. HE MADE THREE ATTEMPTS TO LAND ON THE 1,754 FT RUNWAY; WITNESSES REPORTED THAT A 7-12 KT TAILWIND EXISTED AND THAT ALL THREE ATTEMPTS WERE TOO FAST. THE PLT REPORTED THAT ON THE THIRD 'AND DECIDED FINAL' ATTEMPT, HE FORCED THE ACFT TO TOUCH DOWN AND IT BOUNCED. HE INITIATED ANOTHER GO-AROUND AND THE ACFT SUBSEQUENTLY IMPACTED THE 60 FT HIGH TREES AT THE NORTH END OF THE RWY, STALLED, ROLLED RIGHT AND FELL TO THE GROUND. THE WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE ACFT DID NOT TOUCH DOWN UNTIL ABOUT MID-FIELD ON THE THIRD ATTEMPT.
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: 243 hours in all; 164 in this make and model; 155 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,396 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 31, 1987; 112 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BHM Birmingham AL at 3:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 1,754 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:00 pm from BHM, 18 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.