Beech 23-C23 accident near Knightdale, North Carolina, May 6, 1994
On May 6, 1994 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Beech 23-C23, registered N6660R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Knightdale, North Carolina (Raleigh East airport). It was a business 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 PILOT'S IMPROPER LANDING FLARE THAT RESULTED IN THE COLLAPSE OF THE NOSE LANDING GEAR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 6, 1994 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Knightdale, North Carolina · Raleigh East · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 23-C23 · all 23-C23s on the register
- Registration
- N6660R · no longer on the register · serial M-1610
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT ON LANDING, THE NOSE GEAR BEGAN TO SHIMMY, AND HE PERFORMED A GO-AROUND. HE SAID THAT THREE LANDING ATTEMPTS HAD THE SAME RESULT. ON THE FINAL LANDING, ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE NOSE DROPPED. WHEN HE EXITED THE AIRPLANE HE FOUND THE NOSE GEAR STRUT BROKEN OFF, TOWARD THE REAR OF THE AIRPLANE. THE PILOT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WERE NO MALFUNCTIONS OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE DEPARTURE TAKE OFF, HE MADE NO EN ROUTE STOPS, AND THE AIRPLANE DID NOT COLLIDE WITH ANY OBSTACLES. HE SAID THAT THE LANDING WAS NORMAL TO HIM, AND THAT DURING A NORMAL LANDING HE MAY HAVE HIT ON ALL THREE GEARS AT ONCE OR ON THE BACK GEAR.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8A0 Albertville AL at 5:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 3,000 ft by 36 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:54 pm from RDU, 15 miles away
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.