Beech B24R accident near Manassas, Virginia, June 7, 1993
On June 7, 1993 at about 8:18 pm local time, a Beech B24R, registered N824V, was destroyed in an accident near Manassas, Virginia (Manassas Municipal airport). It was a public-use 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
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED WHILE MANEUVERING FOR A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL. A RELATED FACTOR WAS THAT THE PILOT'S ATTENTION WAS DIVERTED BY THE OPEN DOOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 7, 1993 · about 8:18 pm local time
- Place
- Manassas, Virginia · Manassas Municipal
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech B24R · all B24Rs on the register
- Registration
- N824V · no longer on the register · serial MC-167
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING TAKEOFF FROM RUNWAY 16R, THE PILOT TRANSMITTED, 'I'M GONNA STAY IN THE PATTERN ONCE, MY DOOR JUST OPENED UP.' TOWER PERSONNEL CLEARED HIM TO LAND ON BOTH RUNWAY 16R AND 34L. THE PILOT ACKNOWLEDGED AND NO OTHER RADIO CALLS WERE MADE. WITNESSES REPORTED SEEING THE AIRPLANE AT A LOW ALTITUDE IN A STEEP RIGHT TURN BEFORE THE RIGHT WING IMPACTED THE GROUND AND THE AIRPLANE CARTWHEELED. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE DID NOT DISCLOSE EVIDENCE OF PREIMPACT PART FAILURE. A WITNESS WHO WAS ON THE RAMP AREA REPORTED SEEING THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR OPENED AS THE AIRPLANE WAS TAXIING TO TAKEOFF. ACCORDING TO 'THE AIRCRAFT OPERATING GUIDE, SHOULD THE DOOR COME OPEN IN FLIGHT, THE PILOT SHOULD RETURN TO THE FIELD IN A NORMAL MANNER.
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: 100 hours in all; 40 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,944 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 15, 1992; 200 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,700 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: 2B4 Newport RI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 3,703 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:20 pm from HEF, 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.