Beech C90 accident near Bismark, North Dakota, March 9, 2023
On March 9, 2023 at about 11:45 pm local time, a 1973 Beech C90, registered N46CV, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi (to runway) near Bismark, North Dakota (Bismark Municipal Airport). It was a positioning 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
The ground vehicle driver’s failure to see and maintain clearance from the airplane while conducting ground operations.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 9, 2023 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Bismark, North Dakota · Bismark Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C90, built 1973 · all C90s on the register
- Registration
- N46CV · registry record · serial LJ-568
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial pilot stated that a vehicle struck the right wing of the airplane as he was taxiing from the non-movement area for departure. Surveillance video showed a ground service vehicle drive across the ramp and into the right wing of the airplane. The driver of the ground vehicle stated that as she was starting to speed up on the ramp, the airplane came into view. The driver attempted to stop but slid on the ice and came to rest under the airplane’s right wing. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot stated there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane 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
- Ground collision during taxi (to runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Task monitoring/vigilance › Ground crew
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Snow › Ability to respond/compensate
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,300 hours in all; 92 in this make and model; 44 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 1,059 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 7, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 13,607.8 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, March 9, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 9,650 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt And Whitney PT6A-21 (turboprop); 4,552 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt And Whitney PT6A-21 (turboprop); 10,397 hours total
- Operator: Executive Air Taxi Corporation
The flight
- Destination: KMOT Minot ND
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 1.5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,800 ft
- Temperature: 21°F (-6°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.36 inHg
- Observation at 5:15 pm from KBIS
Weather report (METAR): KBIS 092315Z 02009KT 1 1/2SM -SN BKN028 OVC040 M06/M09 A3036 RMK AO2 P0000 T10611089
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on April 20, 2023. 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 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Driver's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Video File | video | View Download |
| 5 | Photos | PDF, 3 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.