Beech 23 accident near Mebane, North Carolina, January 17, 1993
On January 17, 1993 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Beech 23, registered N3523R, was destroyed in an accident near Mebane, North Carolina (Kimrey Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S MISMANAGEMENT OF THE FUEL SUPPLY WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION TO THE ENGINE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 17, 1993 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Mebane, North Carolina · Kimrey Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 23 · all 23s on the register
- Registration
- N3523R · registry record · serial M682
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE ENGINE QUIT AS HE TURNED DOWNWIND IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN WHILE CONDUCTING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS. THE ATTEMPT TO RESTART THE ENGINE FAILED, AND THE PILOT SELECTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING AREA BETWEEN A TREE LINE AND A MOBILE HOME PARK; THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN IN THE OPEN PORTION OF THE LANDING AREA. THE FIELD EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE DISCLOSED THAT THE LEFT FUEL TANK HAD A LARGE QUANTITY OF FUEL, BUT THE RIGHT TANK WAS EMPTY; THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS ON THE RIGHT TANK. CONTINUITY WAS ESTABLISHED BETWEEN THE FUEL SELECTOR AND THE ENGINE, AND THERE WAS NO FUEL DISCOVERED IN THE FUEL SYSTEM COMPONENTS. THE ENGINE WAS PLACED ON A TEST STAND AND OPERATED UP TO 2400 RPM WITHOUT DIFFICULTY. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE FAILED TO DISCLOSE A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR COMPONENT FAILURE.
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: 190 hours in all; 120 in this make and model; 148 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,026 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 10, 1992
- Maximum gross weight: 2,355 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-346A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BUY Burlington NC at 10:00 pm
- Destination: BUY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,400 ft by 300 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:52 pm from GSO, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.