Beech 200 accident near Indianapolis, Indiana, September 19, 2001
On September 19, 2001 at about 11:54 am local time, a Beech 200, registered N711MZ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Indianapolis, Indiana (Indianapolis International airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 9 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot not maintaining the proper ILS glide slope during the approach and the pilot not executing a missed approach. Contributing to the accident was the rain/mist.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 19, 2001 · about 11:54 am local time
- Place
- Indianapolis, Indiana · Indianapolis International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 9 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech 200 · all 200s on the register
- Registration
- N711MZ · no longer on the register · serial BB-849
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While executing an ILS approach the airplane landed 621 feet short of the runway threshold and impacted portions of the approach light system. The pilot reported that the weather was IFR with heavy rain and a reported visibility of 1 1/2 statute miles. The pilot stated that he had the approach light system in sight at the outer marker. The pilot reported, "Heavy rain and struck approach lights. Landed ok (moderate chop) about 300 yards from end of runway." A pilot-rated passenger reported, "We broke out of clouds, but with heavy rain. I saw the lead in lights to the runway and told the pilot. Then, he said he also had it [the lead in lights], and the runway. I also saw part of the runway. It then was blurry with the rain getting worse it seemed. I asked the pilot if he still had the runway. He said he did, so we proceeded. We then struck the approach lights, or some other lights. It seemed to be choppy before the incident." At the time of the accident there was light rain from a thunderstorm that was located northeast of the airport. The visibility was reported as 3 statute miles with mist and the ceiling was variable between 400-1,100 feet above ground level. Winds were reported to be 190 degrees magnetic at 13 knots with no gusts.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,557 hours in all; 4,200 in this make and model; 9,497 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 15, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,534 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, January 31, 2001; 120 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 12,500 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-42 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SVH Statesville NC at 10:05 am
- Destination: IND Indianapolis IN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 23L, 10,000 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 700 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.71 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 am from IND
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 8 |
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.