Beech 23 accident near Newnan, Georgia, October 20, 1995
On October 20, 1995 at about 10:05 pm local time, a Beech 23, registered N2340J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Newnan, Georgia (Newnan Coweta 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
a loose fuel line fitting, which resulted in a fuel leak and premature emptying of the left fuel tank; failure of the pilot to follow the checklist (select the fullest fuel tank for landing); fuel starvation; and subsequent Loss of engine power, while on final approach to land.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 20, 1995 · about 10:05 pm local time
- Place
- Newnan, Georgia · Newnan Coweta County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 23 · all 23s on the register
- Registration
- N2340J · no longer on the register · serial M-289
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On final approach to runway 32, the airplane had a complete loss of engine power. The pilot initiated a forced landing, and on the landing roll, the left wing struck a tree. The pilot stated that the preflight, engine run up, and the 30 minute flight had been uneventful until the loss of power. Initial examination of the airplane revealed the fuel tank selector was in the left tank position, and the left tank was empty. The right fuel tank was full. The pilot reported having 60 gallons of fuel before departure. No spilled fuel was noted at the wreckage site. The before landing checklist of a similar aircraft (BE-A23) showed that the fullest tank should have been selected. Further examination revealed a disconnected (loose) B-nut where the fuel line was connected to the carburetor.
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: 90 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 56 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,784 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 28, 1995; 34 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O320-D2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AUO Auburn AL at 9:35 pm
- Destination: CCO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 4,007 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 17 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:56 pm from ATL, 18 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.