Beech 23 accident near Davenport, Iowa, June 27, 2020
On June 27, 2020 at about 2:11 pm local time, a 1977 Beech 23, registered N18873, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Davenport, Iowa (Davenport Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to properly configure the airplane for takeoff, which resulted in the exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack, an aerodynamic stall, and subsequent impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 27, 2020 · about 2:11 pm local time · cases in 2020
- Place
- Davenport, Iowa · Davenport Muni · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 23 C23, built 1977 · all 23s on the register
- Registration
- N18873 · no longer on the register · serial M-1959
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was taking off and had begun to climb out when, the airplane's critical angle of attack was exceeded, an aerodynamic stall occurred, and the airplane impacted terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. A postaccident examination of the airframe by Federal Aviation Administration aviation safety inspectors found the trim was configured in a nose up setting for a landing profile. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe and engine that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Preflight or dispatch event during prior to flight
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during takeoff defining event
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Preflight inspection › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Flight control system › Elevator control system › Inadequate inspection other cases naming the flight controls
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Capability exceeded
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 145 hours in all; 61 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 34 in the last 30 days; 32 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 20, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,426 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 5, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming Engines O-360-A4K (piston); 3,426 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DVN Davenport IA at 2:11 pm
- Destination: DLL Baraboo WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 03, 4,001 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,500 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observation at 1:52 pm from KDVN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 4 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – View of the right side of the airplane
Photo 2 – View of the left side of the airplane
Photo 3 – View of the front of the airplane
Photo 4 – View of the trim setting found after the accidentThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on August 5, 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 | Accident Photographs | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation - Federal Aviation Administration Aviation Safety Inspector | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N18873: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Beechcraft 23 146 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Beechcraft 6 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming Engines O-360-A4K 44 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Davenport Municipal · nearest airport
- Baraboo/Wisconsin Dells Regional · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Iowa 871 since 1982 · 131 in the last ten years
- Iowa 4,513 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN20CA253.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.