Beech A23A accident near Franklin, North Carolina, November 29, 1990
On November 29, 1990 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Beech A23A, registered N3696Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Franklin, North Carolina (Macon County 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
THE PILOTS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING LANDING. THE PRESENCE OF GUSTING CROSSWINDS WAS A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 29, 1990 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Franklin, North Carolina · Macon County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A23A · all A23As on the register
- Registration
- N3696Q · no longer on the register · serial M-1064
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS PREPARING TO LAND AND NOTED SURFACE WINDS GUSTING AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS, WITH CROSSWINDS FROM THE RIGHT. UPON TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND OFF THE RUNWAY SURFACE. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A DITCH AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE EXPERIENCED NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH 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
- Flight time: 231 hours in all; 63 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 193 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-346A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 71S Summerville SC at 8:00 pm
- Destination: 1A5 Franklin NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 3,800 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 340° at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.