Beech 23 accident near Vaiden, Mississippi, July 4, 2019
On July 4, 2019 at about 6:55 pm local time, a 1969 Beech 23, registered N7618R, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Vaiden, Mississippi (Mitchell'S airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's unstable approach and failure to properly configure the flaps during the attempted go-around, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 4, 2019 · about 6:55 pm local time
- Place
- Vaiden, Mississippi · Mitchell'S · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 23, built 1969 · all 23s on the register
- Registration
- N7618R · no longer on the register · serial M-1241
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot had conducted a sightseeing flight with three passengers. He configured the airplane with flaps full down for the approach to land on the 2,500-ft turf runway with the airplane near its maximum gross weight. He reported that, due to excessive speed on the final approach, the airplane floated halfway down the runway, and he initiated a go-around. The wing flaps remained fully extended, and the pilot recognized the climb rate was not enough to clear trees at the end of the runway, so he pulled back on the flight control yoke. He then realized that the airplane was in an aerodynamic stall condition and decreased the pitch attitude. The airplane impacted rising terrain about 330 ft beyond the departure end of the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot’s failure to retract the wing flaps during the go-around likely affected the airplane’s performance and ability to climb.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
- Collision during takeoff/land during approach (VFR go-around)
- Landing area overshoot during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › (general) › (general) › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Forgotten action/omission › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Climb rate › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Flight control system › TE flap control system › Not used/operated
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 520 hours in all; 520 in this make and model; 0 in the last 90 days; 0 in the last 30 days; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 7, 1998
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,221 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 19, 2010; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,330 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 SER (piston); 2,221 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 5A6 Winona MS at 6:30 pm
- Destination: 3MS5 Vaiden MS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway N, 2,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,700 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from KGWO, 18 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on June 9, 2020. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NTSB Accident Report Not Submitted | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Correspondence with FAA | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.