Beech A23 accident near Stevens Point, Wisconsin, August 30, 2001
On August 30, 2001 at about 11:13 pm local time, a Beech A23, registered N3516R, was destroyed in an accident near Stevens Point, Wisconsin (Stevens Point Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot not obtaining/maintaining aircraft control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 30, 2001 · about 11:13 pm local time
- Place
- Stevens Point, Wisconsin · Stevens Point Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A23 · all A23s on the register
- Registration
- N3516R · no longer on the register · serial M-675
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was destroyed on impact with terrain during takeoff. A witness stated, "About 3' off the ground he wiggled a little as if he was a student pilot. Than he started to turn sideways with his right side low. It looked like his wing tip was about 20' off the ground. Still climbing he turned right at a real strong [angle], heading toward 21. It looked like his right wing tip was about 50' feet off the ground. At this point he flipped over on his back [and] than dove nose down to the ground. Time 6:13 Wind 250 Knots 6." The mechanics entry for the last recorded annual inspection stated, "I certify that this aircraft has been inspected in accordance with an annual inspection and was determined to be in airworthy condition except for [discrepancies] listed. -Leaking fuel tanks, loose door hinge." An on-scene investigation revealed no pre-impact anomalies. The cabin door remained attached to the fuselage at its hinges. The door's striker plate was found with its outboard side torn out. The fuselage behind the striker plate was found with a gouge. CAMI's toxicological report on the pilot was negative. The report on the passenger stated, "86 (mg/dL, mg/hg) ETHANOL detected in Blood, 91 (mg/dL, mg/hg) ETHANOL detected in Vitreous, 181 (mg/dL, mg/hg) ETHANOL detected in Urine, 1 (mg/dL, mg/hg) ACETALDEHYDE detected in Blood, 2 (mg/dL, mg/hg) ACETALDEHYDE detected in Vitreous."
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: 560 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,462.8 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 5, 2001; 8.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-346-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: STE Stevens Point WI at 11:13 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 3,642 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.77 inHg
- Observation at 11:15 pm from STE
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.