Beech C23 accident near Gilbertsville, Kentucky, December 23, 1988
On December 23, 1988 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Beech C23, registered N6046V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gilbertsville, Kentucky (Kentucky Dam State Park airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- December 23, 1988 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Gilbertsville, Kentucky · Kentucky Dam State Park · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C23 · all C23s on the register
- Registration
- N6046V · no longer on the register · serial M-2171
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING PREFLT INSPECTION FUEL WAS NOTED TO BE UP TO THE SLOTS IN THE TAB FOR THE REDUCED FUEL INDICATORS, OR 20 GAL EACH TANK. A 3 HOUR, DARK NIGHT, CROSS COUNTRY WAS FLOWN TO DESTINATION. PIC SAID ACFT ARRIVED WITH ABOUT 5 GAL FUEL REMAINING IN EACH TANK. ON FINAL APPROACH THE ACFT WAS TOO HIGH AND A GO AROUND WAS INITIATED. AFTER APPLYING FULL POWER AND RAISING THE FLAPS THE ENGINE QUIT SUDDENLY AT ABOUT 650 FEET ABOVE GROUND. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE STRAIGHT AHEAD INTO TREES. THE FLT MANUAL CAUTIONS AGAINST MAKING A TAKEOFF WITH THE FUEL GAGES INDICATING IN THE YELLOW BAND WHICH IS FROM E TO 1/3. A GO AROUND ON FINAL INVOLVES A NOSE UP ATTITUDE SIMILAR TO THAT EXPERIENCED ON TAKEOFF. EVIDENCE OF FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE RIGHT TANK & THE CARBURETOR. LEFT TANK WAS EMPTY AND RUPTURED WITH NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL. THE SELECTOR WAS ON THE LEFT TANK.
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: 108 hours in all; 84 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 75 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,408 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 4, 1988; 74 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: JOT Joliet IL at 8:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 4,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 240° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.