Beech A23A accident near Newaygo, Michigan, September 5, 1990
On September 5, 1990 at about 11:50 pm local time, a Beech A23A, registered N2334W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Newaygo, Michigan (Newaygo airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE STUDENT PILOT'S IMPROPER LEVEL-OFF AND RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF CONTROL. IN ADDITION, AN UNQUALIFIED PERSON WAS COACHING THE STUDENT FROM THE GROUND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 5, 1990 · about 11:50 pm local time
- Place
- Newaygo, Michigan · Newaygo · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A23A · all A23As on the register
- Registration
- N2334W · registry record · serial M-930
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A SOLO STUDENT PILOT BOUNCED ON TOUCHDOWN, APPLIED FULL THROTTLE AND PITCHED UP ABRUPTLY. WITNESSES RECOUNT THE AIRPLANE CLIMBED 10 FEET, REDUCED PITCH TO A STEEP CLIMB ATTITUDE AND ROLLED LEFT. ABOUT 50 FEET ABOVE GROUND THE AIRPLANE, WITH 70 TO 90 DEGREES LEFT BANK, COMMENCED A DESCENT TO GROUND COLLISION. THE STUDENT PILOT'S HUSBAND, A PRIVATE PILOT AND OWNER OF THE AIRPLANE, WAS COACHING HIS WIFE FROM THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY USING A HAND-HELD RADIO.
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: student
- Flight time: 24 hours in all; 24 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 3 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-346A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 3,150 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from MKG, 23 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.
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.