Beech 200 accident near Henderson, Kentucky, August 30, 2023
On August 30, 2023 at about 1:15 pm local time, a 1979 Beech 200, registered N313CT, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Henderson, Kentucky (Henderson City airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An in-flight collision with a bird shortly after takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 30, 2023 · about 1:15 pm local time
- Place
- Henderson, Kentucky · Henderson City · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 200, built 1979 · all 200s on the register
- Registration
- N313CT · registry record · serial BB-461
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that shortly after takeoff, he encountered a flock of geese. One of the geese struck the right wing tip, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot declared an emergency with approach control and landed the airplane without further incident. The pilot reported that there were no 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
- Birdstrike during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Ability to respond/compensate
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 27,500 hours in all; 2,020 in this make and model; 125 in the last 90 days; 38 in the last 30 days; 24,750 as pilot in command; 7,400 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 27, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,647 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 13, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 12,500 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt And Whitney PT6A-41 (turboprop); 6,315 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt And Whitney PT6A-41 (turboprop); 6,720 hours total
- Operator: Bel-Air. LLC
The flight
- Departed from: EHR Henderson KY at 1:15 pm
- Destination: EVV Evansville IN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 09, 5,504 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 7:56 am from KEHR
Weather report (METAR): KEHR 301256Z AUTO 04008KT 10SM CLR 21/18 A2995 RMK AO2 SLP139 T02060178
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on January 25, 2024. 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/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | 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.