Beech B23 accident near Hatteras, North Carolina, September 29, 1989
On September 29, 1989 at about 5:20 pm local time, a Beech B23, registered N2333L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hatteras, North Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNKNOWN REASON.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 29, 1989 · about 5:20 pm local time
- Place
- Hatteras, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech B23 · all B23s on the register
- Registration
- N2333L · no longer on the register · serial M-164
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED EXPERIENCING ENGINE PROBLEMS WHILE EN ROUTE TO OCRACOKE, NC. HE DESCRIBED A GRADUAL REDUCTION IN ENGINE RPM UNTIL IT STABILIZED AT 1500 RPM. THROUGHOUT THE EMERGENCY, THE PILOT APPLIED CARBURETOR HEAT WHICH FURTHER REDUCED THE RPM. THE TEMP/DEW POINT WERE 79/63 DEGREES, RESPECTIVELY. THE CONDITIONS WERE CONDUCIVE FOR THE FORMATION OF INDUCTION ICING. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DAMAGED WHEN IT HIT BUSHES DURING A FORCED LANDING. SUBSEQUENT WRECKAGE EXAMINATION FAILED TO INDICATE ANY TYPE OF SYSTEM PROBLEM. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE DRAINED WATER FROM THE FUEL SYSTEM DURING THE PRE-FLIGHT INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE.
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: 700 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 620 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,711 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 16, 1989; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Dare East Air
The flight
- Departed from: M0I Manteo NC at 3:43 pm
- Destination: W9S Ocracoke NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from EWN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| 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.