Beech A23-19 accident near Hertford, North Carolina, August 31, 1989
On August 31, 1989 at about 12:30 pm local time, a Beech A23-19, registered N5796V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hertford, North Carolina (Hertford airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY FLARE THE AIRPLANE DURING LANDING. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS AT BOTH ENDS OF THE RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 31, 1989 · about 12:30 pm local time
- Place
- Hertford, North Carolina · Hertford · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A23-19 · all A23-19s on the register
- Registration
- N5796V · no longer on the register · serial MB-56
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE INITIALLY TOUCHED DOWN ON THE NOSE GEAR, WHICH OVERLOADED IT AND CAUSED IT TO COLLAPSE. THE AIRPLANE SWERVED COLLAPSING THE MAIN GEAR. THE PILOT NOTED THAT THE RWY AT THE PVT STRIP WAS 2,000 FT LONG WITH POWER LINES AT EACH END; HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND IMMEDIATELY AFTER CLEARING THE WIRES AT THE APPROACH END, SO THAT HE WOULD HAVE MORE RWY FOR ROLL-OUT AND AVOID OVERRUNNING THE RWY END.
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: 187 hours in all; 28 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 141 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 17, 1988; 125 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ECG Elizabeth City NC at 12:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 2,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:00 pm from ECG, 8 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.