Beech C-23 accident near Burlington, Iowa, November 9, 1991
On November 9, 1991 at about 4:35 pm local time, a Beech C-23, registered N38036, was substantially damaged in an accident near Burlington, Iowa. 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 PILOT HAVING AN IMPROPER FUEL TANK SELECTOR POSITION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 9, 1991 · about 4:35 pm local time
- Place
- Burlington, Iowa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C-23 · all C-23s on the register
- Registration
- N38036 · no longer on the register · serial M-2299
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT HAD COMPLETED A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT AND ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN TO LAND. WHILE ON BASE LEG THE PILOT APPLIED CARBURETOR HEAT, REDUCED POWER AND EXTENDED LANDING FLAPS BECAUSE SHE BELIEVED SHE WAS TOO HIGH. ONCE ON FINAL APPROACH, THE PILOT EXTENDED ADDITIONAL FLAPS. UPON EXTENSION OF THE FLAPS THE PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO DECELERATE AND DESCEND RAPIDLY. THE PILOT STATED THE STALL WARNING HORN ACTIVATED AND THE AIRPLANE ROLLED TO THE RIGHT DURING THE DECELERATION AND DESCENT. THE PILOT APPLIED POWER AND FORWARD ELEVATOR PRESSURE ON THE CONTROL YOKE. THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND WITH THE APPLICATION OF THROTTLE. DURING THIS PROCESS THE PILOT STATED SHE LOST SIGHT OF THE AIRPORT. SHORTLY AFTER THIS ACTION THE PILOT PERFORMED A FORCED LANDING. AN ON SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT WING FUEL TANK CONTAINED APPROXIMATELY 1 GALLON OF FUEL, AND THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS POSITIONED ON THE RIGHT WING FUEL TANK. THE LEFT WING FUEL TANK WAS APPROXIMATELY 3/4 FULL.
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: 88 hours in all; 34 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360A4J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CMI Champiion IL at 3:00 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 4:50 pm from BRL, 2 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.