Beech F33A accident near Franklin, North Carolina, October 11, 1991
On October 11, 1991 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Beech F33A, registered N37MC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Franklin, North Carolina (Macon County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO LOWER THE LANDING GEAR RESULTING IN A GEAR UP CONTACT WITH THE RUNWAY, AND THE EVENTUAL LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 11, 1991 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Franklin, North Carolina · Macon County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech F33A · all F33As on the register
- Registration
- N37MC · registry record · serial CE-1258
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE IN THE FLARE, THE PROPELLER BLADES BEGAN TO CONTACT THE RUNWAY SURFACE. THE PILOT REALIZED THAT HE HAD NOT EXTENDED THE LANDING GEAR PRIOR TO THE APPROACH. HE EXECUTED A GO AROUND WHILE LOWERING THE GEAR. FLAPS REMAINED FULL DOWN. HE WAS UNABLE TO TAKE OFF STRAIGHT AHEAD DUE TO RISING TERRAIN, SO HE EXECUTED A 180 DEGREE TURN BACK TOWARDS THE AIRPORT. UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE, HE LANDED THE AIRPLANE IN A NEARBY PLOWED FIELD. ON LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE CROSSED A CREEK BED AND COLLIDED WITH THE WEST BANK OF THE CREEK. THE PILOT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRPLANE. AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE AFTER THE ACCIDENT REVEALED THAT THE GEAR WARNING CIRCUIT BREAKER WAS TRIPPED. AN EXAMINATION OF THE RUNWAY REVEALED NUMEROUS PROPELLER SLASH MARKS. THE PROPELLER BLADE TIPS WERE SCORED AND CURLED.
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: 520 hours in all; 332 in this make and model; 436 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 520 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 24, 1991; 370 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AVL Asheville NC at 8:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 3,800 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from AVL, 44 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 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.