Beech 23-B24R accident near Boone, North Carolina, April 28, 1999
On April 28, 1999 at about 4:50 pm local time, a Beech 23-B24R, registered N12RF, was destroyed in an accident near Boone, North Carolina (Boone, INC. airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilots failure to obtain/maintain proper climb rate during initial climbout. This resulted in the collision with the mountain/hilly terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 28, 1999 · about 4:50 pm local time
- Place
- Boone, North Carolina · Boone, INC. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech 23-B24R · all 23-B24Rs on the register
- Registration
- N12RF · registry record · serial MC-293
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to witnesses, the ceiling was about 50 feet above the ground, and the takeoff appeared to be normal until the collision with trees. According to the FAA Inspector on-scene, the aircraft collided with trees and rising terrain and subsequently the ground in a wooded area about 1.6 miles south of the airport. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the airplane had collided with trees up-slope on the north side of a ridge, at the 3800 foot level. The slope of the ridge was approximately 25 degrees. The initial crash path through the trees was inclined 3-5 degrees. Examination of the engine found it heat damaged from the post-impact fire. All of the accessory components were destroyed. Engine examination and partial disassembly found no evidence of any pre-impact mechanical deficiencies that would have prevented the engine from developing power.
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; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 625 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 5A3 at 4:48 pm
- Destination: BVX Batesville AR
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 13, 3,300 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 900 ft; scat at 500 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:54 pm from CLT, 100 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.
Other NTSB records under N12RF the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.