Beech A90 accident near Montgomery, Alabama, January 16, 1989
On January 16, 1989 at about 3:10 pm local time, a Beech A90, registered N623AW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Montgomery, Alabama (Dannelly Field). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (CFI) INADVERTENTLY ACTUATED THE LANDING GEAR HANDLE TO THE UP POSITION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 16, 1989 · about 3:10 pm local time
- Place
- Montgomery, Alabama · Dannelly Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A90
- Registration
- N623AW · no longer on the register · serial LJ 282
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE THIRD TOUCH AND GO LANDING OF THE TRAINING FLIGHT, THE INSTRUCTOR MOMENTARILY PLACED THE LANDING GEAR HANDLE TO THE UP POSITION WHILE THE AIRPLANE WAS ON THE RUNWAY. THE LEFT MAIN GEAR RETRACTED FOLLOWED BY THE RIGHT. THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE RUNWAY TO THE LEFT SIDE AND CAME TO A STOP IN THE GRASS. THE PROCEDURES IN EFFECT AT THE TIME WERE FOR THE INSTRUCTOR TO SET THE FLAPS FOR TAKEOFF AFTER THE STUDENT HAD TOUCHED DOWN.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 4,208 hours in all; 656 in this make and model; 88 in the last 90 days; 39 in the last 30 days; 3,534 as pilot in command; 2,228 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,719 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, December 27, 1988; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,300 lb
- Seats: 9
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W PT6A-20 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DHN Dothan AL at 2:00 pm
- Runway 27, 9,001 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,300 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:13 pm from MGM
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| 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.