Beech A23 accident near Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, January 3, 1993
On January 3, 1993 at about 7:05 pm local time, a Beech A23, registered N5774V, was destroyed in an accident near Ft. Bragg, North Carolina (Simmons Army Airfield). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS AND THE LOSS OF CONTROL DURING THE FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 3, 1993 · about 7:05 pm local time
- Place
- Ft. Bragg, North Carolina · Simmons Army Airfield · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A23 · all A23s on the register
- Registration
- N5774V · no longer on the register · serial MA-28
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT DEPARTED RUNWAY 27 AT SIMMONS ARMY AIRFIELD. IMMEDIATELY AFTER DEPARTURE, THE PILOT REQUESTED AN IMMEDIATE RETURN TO THE AIRPORT. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT AT ABOUT 300 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL, THE ENGINE SOUNDED AS IF IT HAD LOST POWER. THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A 90 DEGREE RIGHT BANK AND IMPACTED THE TERRAIN ON A HEADING OF APPROXIMATELY 30 DEGREES. THE POST CRASH FIRE CONSUMED MOST OF THE AIRCRAFT FUSELAGE AND ENGINE AREA. THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF EXTREME HEAT AND FIRE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE ACCESSORY AREA. THERE WAS CONTINUITY OF THE ENGINE DRIVE TRAIN. THE PROPELLER DID NOT SHOW EVIDENCE OF CHORDWISE SCRATCHING NOR TWISTING TOWARD LOW PITCH.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 351 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 247 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,549 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 16, 1992; 51 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: FBG at 7:03 pm
- Destination: FBG
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 27, 3,600 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 9,000 ft; not recorded at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:08 pm from FBG, 1 miles away
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.