Piper PA-23-180 accident near Beatrice, Nebraska, October 3, 2004
On October 3, 2004 at about 8:20 pm local time, a Piper PA-23-180, registered N173DC, was destroyed in an accident near Beatrice, Nebraska (Beatrice Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of right engine power undetermined reasons. Factors to the accident were the loss of engine power at a low altitude and below the single engine best rate of climb airspeed (Vyse), and the unsuitable terrain encountered during the subsequent forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 3, 2004 · about 8:20 pm local time
- Place
- Beatrice, Nebraska · Beatrice Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-180 · all PA-23-180s on the register
- Registration
- N173DC · registry record · serial 23-994
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was destroyed during a post-impact fire following a forced landing shortly after takeoff. The pilot had performed a precautionary landing after noticing the exhaust gas temperature indicator for the number one cylinder of the right engine showed elevated temperatures. The pilot called his mechanic to discuss the problem and they decided that "it was most likely an instrument or probe issue as there was no corroborating systems." The pilot fueled the main fuel tanks with 72 total gallons of fuel prior to departing BIE. The pilot reported that the winds favored runway 31. The pilot stated that he held the brakes as he increased power on both engines to 22 inches of manifold pressure. The pilot reported that he released the brakes and accelerated through redline and rotated without anomalies. The pilot stated that during initial climb, between 30 and 60 feet above ground level, he observed the right engine exhaust gas temperature "going through the high limit" which was followed by a "whooshing air sound and violent yaw to the right." The pilot reported that the airplane was "still low and slow" and it "never got to blue line [Vyse] or enough altitude to nose down for airspeed." The pilot stated that he did not have "enough altitude or climb power" to clear the power lines off the north side of the airport. The pilot reported that he did not have "enough airspeed for effective directional control" and he "continued shallow right turn with continued buffeting." The pilot stated he decided to land diagonally across highway 77. The aircraft impacted a highway embankment and a post-impact fire ensued. No discrepancies were found with either engine that would have prevented normal operation. A fuel sample was taken from the source that fueled the accident airplane prior to the accident. The fuel sample was examined and was void of visible contamination and/or water. Both propellers were found in the feathered position.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,600 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 1,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Textron Lycoming O-360-A1D (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Textron Lycoming O-360-A1D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: BIE Beatrice NE at 8:20 pm
- Destination: K19 Albany MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 4,401 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 8:34 pm from BIE, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CHI05CA001.